Almost everyone knows this person from history. Princess Olga ruled Kievan Rus until 960. It was she who became the first ruler to convert to Christianity. No one knows exactly when she was born. But some sources claim that her death occurred in the eightieth year of her life. At the time of marriage, Olga was about 10 years old. This means that the approximate year of her birth is 893.
Princess Olga became the wife of Prince Igor. After birth, she was named Helga, but her husband decided to give her a different name. She received the name that glorified the woman after her baptism.
In this article we will look at 10 interesting facts about Princess Olga.
There is still debate about its origin
There is still debate about the origin of Princess Olga .
There are many versions on this matter. Some believe that she was a native of Pskov, while others are sure that her birthplace was Izborsk. There is no information about Olga before her marriage. The Tale of Bygone Years says that it was brought to Prince Igor in 903. It is indicated here that the princess was born in the village of Vybutino-Budutino.
Since the girl was born in the north, her roots go back to the Eastern Slavs. They were the ones who lived on these lands at that time. The story contains no information about what Olga did before her marriage to Igor. All that is known is that she was a simple village woman whom the prince met while hunting.
Olga's life after her wedding with Igor
Olga, Princess of Kiev, married Igor as a very young girl. A short biography, which has survived to this day thanks to the Tale of Bygone Years, states that the date of her marriage is 903. At first, the couple lived separately: Olga ruled Vyshgorod, and her husband ruled Kiev. Besides her, Igor had several more wives. The couple had a common child only in 942. This is Svyatoslav, the future prince of Kievan Rus, famous for his successful military campaigns.
Avenged the death of her husband in 4 stages
Not many people know that Princess Olga took revenge for the death of her husband . She grieved greatly for him, but her strong character did not allow her to remain in this state for long.
After Olga's husband was killed, the Drevlyans decided to send matchmakers to her to ask her to marry. But by order of the princess, the boat on which the guests arrived was taken to the courtyard of the tower. It was there that all the matchmakers were buried alive.
After the first revenge, Olga decided to ask that the best men come to her again for future marriage. When the people arrived, they were burned alive in the bathhouse.
But the princess did not stop there. One day, together with her squad, she arrived in the land of the Drevlyans. During a small meal, Olga gave everyone a drink and ordered her soldiers to cut them down. About five thousand people were killed that day.
The last thing Olga did was burn the capital along with the Drevlyans. During the summer period, she tied Molotov cocktails to the birds, and then sent them to the city where these peoples lived.
Laid the beginning of stone urban planning
Princess Olga became the person who laid the foundation for stone town planning . The very first buildings made of stone were the city palace and the lady's tower outside the city.
She tried to pay special attention to the construction of Kyiv and the lands that belonged to it. This is how she was able to make her invaluable contribution to the history of Rus'.
Domestic and foreign policy
If we characterize Olga as the ruler of Rus', then, of course, she surpassed her husband in matters relating to the internal politics of the state. The princess managed to subjugate the rebellious East Slavic tribes to her power. All lands dependent on Kyiv were divided into administrative units, at the head of which tiuns (governors) were appointed. She also carried out a tax reform, as a result of which the size of polyudya was established, and graveyards were organized to collect it. Olga began stone urban development on Russian lands. Under her rule, a city palace and a princely suburban tower were erected in Kyiv.
In foreign policy, Olga set a course for rapprochement with Byzantium. But at the same time, the princess sought to ensure that her lands remained independent of this great empire. The rapprochement of the two states led to the fact that Russian troops repeatedly took part in the wars waged by Byzantium.
The first of the rulers of Rus' to convert to Christianity
Long before Olga accepted Christianity, she studied its basics. She tried to visit Orthodox churches from time to time and was amazed at their beauty and splendor. Princess Olga became the first woman to convert to Christianity in pagan Russia .
It is worth noting that she tried to involve her son in this, but, unfortunately, she could not. He accepted a different faith. The princess failed to ensure that Christianity was adopted throughout Rus', but her grandson was able to accomplish this. Prince Vladimir continued his difficult mission.
Emperor Constantine of Byzantium became her godfather
In different sources you can find completely different information about who baptized Princess Olga. According to one version, this was done by Patriarch Polyeuctus, and according to another, Theophylact. There is also information that Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus became the princess’s godfather .
During baptism, a crucifix was placed on Olga, on which Our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. It is believed that his woman took him to Rus'.
The chronicle also reports that Olga was very smart. The Emperor really wanted to marry her. But the princess said that this was impossible due to the inconsistency of his faith. After the baptism was performed, the woman again refused him because he was her godfather.
Construction of Orthodox churches began
After her return to Kiev, Princess Olga ordered the construction of churches in all graveyards . She was so inspired by visiting such places.
Many temples were built during this period. These include the church in honor of St. Nicholas in Kyiv, as well as the church in honor of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the city of Vitebsk.
During the siege of Kyiv by the Pechenegs, she personally led the defense of the city
History says that in 969, the Byzantines bribed the Pechenegs. They raided Kyiv. At that moment, only Olga and her 3 sons were in the city. Then it was Princess Olga who had to lead the defense. Together with her army, she was able to besiege the Pechenegs, who came to these lands for the first time . Enemies began to attack from all sides, but the woman was very smart and cunning.
She managed to send the young man to the other side, where her son, Prince Svyatoslav, was. He knew the enemy's language and was able to pretend to be one of them.
The trick was a success; the prince and his retinue came to the aid of Kyiv. The Pechenegs were completely defeated.
Baptism and death
The circumstances of the baptism of the first ruler of Rus' have not been fully clarified by history. Main versions:
- The Tale of Bygone Years says that it was in 955. The baptism was performed by Patriarch Theophylact of Constantinople and Emperor Constantine VII. Olga received the name Elena. There is also a legend about Olga’s supposedly cunning trick: Konstantin, captivated by the princess’s beauty, wanted to take her as his wife, but she refused due to the difference in religions. Then the emperor baptized her, but the wedding again became impossible, since from now on Konstantin was Olga’s godfather.
- Most other sources name 957 as the date of Olga's baptism. The godparents were Patriarch Polievkt and the son of Constantine VII Roman II. Nothing is said about why the princess decided to change her faith.
Olga's life was cut short in 969. She was buried according to Christian custom. Most likely, already during the reign of Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich, the eldest grandson of the princess, she was revered as a saint: her relics were transferred to the church, and some miracles occurred. Under Vladimir the Wise, nicknamed the Baptist, Yaropolk's heir and youngest grandson, the saint's relics were transferred to the Kyiv Church of the Holy Mother of God.
Official canonization occurred only in the middle of the 13th century ; in the middle of the 16th century, Olga was canonized as a saint equal to the apostles.
The biography of Princess Olga is interesting and unusual in that she is the first woman to sit on the Russian throne. She is best known for her brutal revenge on her husband’s murderers and her adoption of Christianity - in fact, she was the first baptized ruler in Rus'. She is also known as a renowned saint, the patroness of widows and new believers.
Continued to rule unofficially when her son was away on campaigns
Very often, Prince Svyatoslav, together with his army, went on various campaigns. Some of them took quite a long period of time. But Kyiv could not remain completely without protection and a ruler.
That is why the princess continued to rule Kievan Rus, but not officially . She also did this until her son reached age and ascended the throne.
Government and reforms
Olga's reign as regent for her son lasted from 945 to 960. During this time, she carried out a number of reforms and transformations. These include:
- The construction of a system of graveyards - centers of exchange and trade, in which tribute was also collected.
- Establishing the amount of tribute collected and the timing. This greatly facilitated the work of tax collectors and reduced the number of unrest, allowing them to avoid arbitrary changes in the conditions for collecting taxes.
- Establishing (not entirely successful) relations with Byzantium.
- The beginning of stone urban planning, the appearance of the first stone buildings in Kyiv - the city palace and the princess's country palace.
- Carrying out work to improve the lands under control.
In 960, Svyatoslav Igorevich ascended the throne; in 964, he already went on his first military campaign. Olga was supposed to transfer full power to her son, but, apparently, she continued to rule until her death, since Svyatoslav Igorevich preferred to spend his time on military campaigns.
She is considered a saint and is considered the patroness of widows and converts.
Olga felt her death approaching in 969. At the end of her life, she was able to persuade her son not to leave Kyiv, but to stay to bury her.
Everyone mourned the princess. subsequently canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church . She became the only saint equal to the apostles.
Every year her memory is celebrated in the church. According to the Julian calendar, this occurs on July 11th. It is worth noting that Princess Olga is considered the patroness of all widows and converted Christians. Very often people turn to her for help with prayers.
Olga was revered earlier and is still revered today. Many girls who have this saint as their heavenly patrons are named after her.
Reign of Princess Olga
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It is known how cruelly Princess Olga took revenge on the Drevlyans for the death of her husband. Her son Svyatoslav also took part in the punitive campaigns. The lesson taught was not in vain: Svyatoslav learned once and for all how to treat enemies - severely punish, bring them to their knees and force them to swear allegiance. He was faithful to this rule until the end of his days, even when his mother tried to persuade him to Christian virtues.
There were various rumors about Olga herself. For example, it was as if she worked on a ferry and transported people from one shore to another in the Pskov land. She met Igor at the crossing and liked him so much that he immediately took her as his wife. Of course it's a legend. Even in the early Middle Ages, when morals were simpler, princes did not marry commoners. Especially Igor, who had a stern guardian - Uncle Oleg.
Princess Olga short biography
There were similar stories about the founder of Kyiv, Prince Kiy. Nestor even had to specifically stipulate in the chronicle that it was not Kiy the carrier, but a completely different Kiy who founded the city. Probably, there was some kind of now forgotten ritual when unusual people were represented as carriers across the river. The legendary river separated the world of the living from the other world, and crossing or swimming across the river meant committing a fateful act, changing oneself and entering a new phase of life.
This is exactly what, according to Tatishchev, happened to Olga. Her Slavic name is Beauty. She was a relative of Gostomysl, and therefore was distantly related to Igor. She lived in Izborsk, but took care of the Novgorod possessions, where she made frequent trips. She predicted the founding of Pleskov-Pskov. And, having become the Grand Duchess, she fulfilled this prediction.
You may also be interested in the article: The emergence of statehood among the Eastern Slavs
It is quite logical that Igor’s guardian, Oleg, brought him an eminent bride, Beautiful. Having become a princess, she had to take the Russian (not Varangian) name - Olga. Later, having been baptized in Constantinople, she received a third, godfather, Greek name - Helen. And, of course, a simple peasant woman, even burning with a thirst for revenge, could not burn the “groom’s envoys” alive in a bathhouse.
This was not just cruel revenge, but a calculated move, bringing the subject Drevlyan tribe to obedience. Olga thought like a real ruler. And she spoke with the emperor of Byzantium as equals. According to the chronicle, Constantine Porphyrogenitus, admiring the intelligence and beauty of the “Archontissa of the Rosov,” complimented the lady: “You are worthy to reign with us in our capital.” She ignored the flattering words and immediately got down to business.
This is how the first princess of the Greek religion appeared in Rus'. She tried to convert her only son to the new faith, but that was not the case! Svyatoslav showed inflexibility in the matter of faith, at first he made the excuse that he could not believe in some gods, while his subjects worshiped others. And then he completely stopped talking about this topic. Tatishchev wrote: “He, without listening to his mother, acted according to pagan customs.”
Svyatoslav the Great
Due to her son's obstinacy, the mother often found herself in an awkward position. The Emperor of Byzantium baptized Olga with his own hands “Not for her beautiful eyes” - he needed her brave warriors. That's what they signed an agreement about. The time came, in 956 he sent ambassadors with a reminder of the “debt”. But here’s the problem: the soldiers obeyed her son, the legal heir to the throne and commander. Olga came up with a reason for a polite refusal: they say, let Konstantin appear himself and wait, as she expected his audience. She rewarded the ambassadors generously and sent them home. Well, let’s say that such a refusal could have led to war, but it was unlikely that the emperor would have sent his troops up the Dnieper - there were barely enough of them to defend Constantinople: enemies were pressing in from all sides. And Constantine VII died soon - in 959. And Svyatoslav had a special conversation with his successor, Roman. Apparently, Olga was in no hurry to give up power, and her son did not need the Kiev throne at all. He decided to found a new capital - in the city of Pereyaslavl on the Danube.
The Kyiv monastic chroniclers had little idea what kind of city this was, and described it as if Svyatoslav, due to his youth and wild temperament, amused himself with hikes across the endless steppes. He lives, God knows where, in the wild, eats half-raw horse meat, sleeps in the open air, which is completely unbecoming for the prince. Meanwhile, Pereyaslavl (there were several cities with this name in Rus') - a fortress in Bulgaria, near the Varna River - has been the capital of Lower Mysia since ancient times. The city was located in a strategically important place - it was the key to the northern passages through the Balkans. And whoever has the key has the power. The Byzantine emperor John Tzimiskes understood this very well, who in 971 attacked the city with a large army and, after the siege, killed the Russian garrison located there. Only the head of the garrison, Sfenkel, with a small detachment managed to flee to Dorastal to Svyatoslav.
The emergence of statehood among the Eastern Slavs
Alas, the great prince of Kiev could not devote himself entirely to the southern warriors. Olga, no matter how far her ambitions stretched, could not lead the defense of Kyiv when it was surrounded by the Pechenegs, who learned that the prince was not there. The people of Kiev had to find a way out of the situation themselves. First, a certain young man, secretly getting out of the city wall, began to wander among the Pecheneg fires, asking the nomads if anyone had seen his horse. Fortunately, he knew how to speak Pecheneg, and everyone accepted him as one of their own. They suspected something was wrong only when the guy, approaching the shore, undressed, jumped into the water and swam to the opposite shore. They shot at him, but didn’t hit him in the evening darkness. The Kievite, having climbed ashore - arrows were falling to the right and left of him - hurried to the squad led by governor Pretich and told them about the siege of the city.
The trouble was that Pretich’s squad was small - it was not worth it for him to enter into battle with the Pecheneg horde: they themselves would die and Kyiv would not be saved. In the morning they put on a whole performance, as if they were the vanguard, and Svyatoslav’s army was galloping on their heels. The Pechenezh Khan understood only the language of force and, quite frightened - the name of Svyatoslav thundered throughout the steppes - began to fraternize with the governor Pretich. Then, being sure that from now on he was the best friend of the formidable Svyatoslav, he led his soldiers away. Only after this did they send messengers to the prince. He rushed forward, ready to punish, but there was no trace of the Pechenegs.
Olga begged him not to leave Kyiv again, citing poor health: they say, this meeting could be the last meeting between her son and his mother. But the stern warrior could not live holding on to his mother’s skirt - he galloped away. He left his heir, the meek Yaropolk, with his grandmother. Olga died three days later and was buried without a funeral service, according to Christian rites. Perhaps every schoolchild knows about the death of Svyatoslav - he was overtaken by the Pecheneg Khan Kurya in the early spring at the Dnieper rapids. The nomad killed the prince and made a cup from his skull, setting it with gold. Strangely, the prince’s governor, the Varangian Sveneld, remained alive and hurried to Kyiv with sad news.
Cathedrals and temples are named in her honor, as well as three orders.
Currently, many temples, cathedrals, churches have been built, which are illuminated in honor of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga.
One of these churches is located in Ostankino. It was built in 2011. Every Tuesday, prayer services are held here, as well as the reading of an akathist to the great Olga.
The Order of Princess Olga is an award for women who have made merit in the state, as well as civil, scientific, educational or other fields. There are three orders - I degree, II and III. The first is made of silver and has a shape resembling an oval. The second one is not much different from the first. The only difference is the depiction of the princess on it. The third degree order is made of silver-plated tombac (a type of brass).
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