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SECOND STAGE OF THE
STRUGGLE FOR POWER |
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The death of
Vladimir (?956-1015) set his inmates free and initiated the protracted
second stage of the struggle for power, in which the
antagonists would resort literally to anything. The success
was originally with Svyatopolk (?980-1019). He was the only one of the
princes, who at the time of Vladimir's death was present in
Kiev, and he knew how to make use of the opportunity. To
consolidate his power as soon as possible, he ordered about
the assassination of three of his brothers - Boris, Gleb and
Svyatoslav. For that deed of his
History rewarded the first two brothers with the elevation to
the sainthood, and Svyatopolk himself with the nickname "the
Cursed". There is no doubt that Svyatopolk also planned to get
rid of Jaroslav; both brothers, indeed,
clashed in the battle of |
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Lyubech (west of
Chernigov) in 1016. Svyatopolk was
defeated and fled to Poland. It is worth mentioning that
on Jaroslav's side fought not only Novgorodite warriors, but
also the Varangians, whom Jaroslav hired earlier, awaiting a
possible armed clash with his father.
For two
years Svyatopolk stayed at the court of Boleslaus
I the Brave (967-1025),
his father-in-law,
who could not come to his aid immediately, since at that time
Poland fought a war with the Holy Roman Empire. It was not
until the favourable peace treaty was concluded in Budziszyn
in 1018, that Boleslaus, together with Svyatopolk, could
undertake an expedition against Rus. Jaroslav tried to stop
them on the border, but his army was totally destroyed in the
battle on the River Bug, and he had to flee to Novgorod again.
Boleslaus took Kiev and seated Svyatopolk on the Kievan throne
for the second time. But this triumph did not last either,
since the love and understanding between the father-in-law and
son-in-law started to whittle. Boleslaus went into secret
talks with Jaroslav, and when Svyatopolk learnt about it, he
started to set Russians rising against Polish garrisons.
Eventually the Poles were forced to leave Kiev. During that
withdraval Boleslaus looted and pillaged the cities of
Cherven. Svyatopolk was left in Kiev with tiny forces. When
Jaroslav's army |
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approached
the city, Svyatopolk fled to the Pechenegs, where he
managed to gather his forces again. The outcome of the
struggle was finally decided in the bloody battle on the
River Alta (east of Kiev). Defeated Svyatopolk once again
fled to Poland, but this time he did not obtain help there
any more. From Poland he went to Bohemia and since then
any |
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historic
information about him ceased.
Svyatopolk was dead in 1019. |
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M.
Arushev
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