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  • Memorial Day Prince Svyatoslav - July 3

    Prince Svyatoslav

    July 3 - day slavleniya Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich (about 942-972). The Slavs in the day it was decided to carry out the ritual fights, military, and praise the dedication of Perun.

    Russian historian NM Karamzin called it "Alexander (the Great) of our ancient history." According to Academician BA Rybakov, "Movies Svyatoslav 965-968 years are like a single saber stroke, draw a map of Europe on a wide semi-circle of the Middle Volga to the Caspian Sea and on the North Caucasus and the Black Sea region to the Balkan lands of Byzantium."

    Svyatoslav, Grand Prince of Kiev, - the son of Igor and Olga, largely ruled by the son of the state (until his death in 969), because the prince all the time spent in military campaigns. In 964-66 Svyatoslav's first self-made approach: Vyatichi liberation from the power of the Khazars and their subordination to Kiev. This was followed by trips to the Volga and the North Caucasus, the defeat of the Khazar Khaganate.

    In 967 or 968, respectively, using the offer of Byzantium, which was trying to weaken its neighbors Russia and Bulgaria, pitting them against each other, Prince Svyatoslav invaded Bulgaria and settled at the mouth of the Danube, in Pereyaslavets. Byzantine government to impede the adoption of Svetoslav Bulgaria, sent to Kiev Pechenegs. He returned to defend the capital, but, having beaten the Pechenegs, again came to Bulgaria.

    Around 971 Sviatoslav in alliance with the Bulgarians and Hungarians began to fight with Byzantium. After the fight with superior numbers of the Byzantine army at the Great Preslav and Dorostol, bear with his army-month siege, Svyatoslav concluded in 971 peace with Byzantium. On the way back to Kiev prince Svyatoslav Dnieper rapids have died in battle with the Pechenegs, which Byzantine government warned of his return.

    Svyatoslav went down in history of ancient Russia, as a shining example of valor. His speech before the last decisive battle with the Byzantines under Dorostol - evidence of a high understanding of the importance of military honor in old society, "Do not disgrace the Russian Land, lie down here with the bones. Dead shame no shame. If you flee, disgraced himself. Let us stand as firmly. If my head will fall, hunted about yourself. " Vigilantes he said, "Where's your head to lie down there and we add up their heads."

    Unlike their predecessors, preserve Scandinavian traditions, Svyatoslav was the first Slavic Russian prince.