The strategy of creating the First Russian Empire
Prince Svyatoslav, concluding an honorable peace with the Byzantine emperor Tzimiskes, planned to continue the war. According to the "Tale of Bygone Years," the prince said: "According to Rus, I will bring Bole squads."
Svyatoslav left the Danube region, but Russia retained her conquests in the Azov region, the Volga region, kept the mouth of the Dnieper. Researchers believe that after meeting with the Byzantine emperor, when an honorable peace was concluded, returning Russia and Byzantium to the provisions of the 944 treaty of the year, the Russian army was on the Danube for some time. On the Dnieper Svyatoslav was only in the deep autumn.
At the Dnieper rapids it was already waiting for the Pechenegs. According to the official version, the Greeks (the Romans) were not going to let the formidable warrior back to Russia, realizing that he could assemble a large army, build a fleet, as princes Oleg and Igor did at one time, and return. The Byzantine chronicler John Skilitsa reports that earlier Svyatoslav had been sent to the Dnieper a master of political intrigue, Bishop Theophilus of Euchites. The bishop was carrying expensive gifts to Khan Kure and the proposal of John I Zimiscia for the conclusion of a treaty of friendship and alliance between the Pechenegs and Byzantium. The Byzantine sovereign asked the Pechenegs to no longer cross the Danube, not to attack the Bulgarian lands that now belonged to Constantinople. According to Greek sources, Zimiskhiy also asked to let Russian troops pass unhindered. The Pechenegs allegedly agreed with all the conditions, except for one thing: they did not want to let Rus.
Rusam about the refusal of the Pechenegs to miss the squad of Svyatoslav did not say anything. Therefore, Svyatoslav walked in full confidence that the Greeks had fulfilled their promise and the road was free. The Russian chronicle states that the anti-Russian-minded residents of Pereyaslavets told the Pechenegs that Svyatoslav was walking with a small retinue and with great wealth: “Svyatoslav with a small retinue goes past you to Russia, taking a lot of wealth and prisoners from the Greeks without a number. Hearing this, the Pechenegs set foot in the rapids. ” Thus, there are three versions: the Pechenegs themselves wanted to strike at Svyatoslav, the Greeks only kept silent about this; the Greeks bribed the Pechenegs; Pechenegs notified pereyaslavts-Bulgarians hostile to Svyatoslav.
The fact that Svyatoslav went to Russia in complete peace and confidence confirms the division of his army into two unequal parts. Reaching in boats to the “Island of Rusov” at the mouth of the Danube, the prince divided the army. The main forces under the leadership of the governor Sveneld went under their own power through the forests and steppes to Kiev. They arrived safely. No one dared to attack a powerful army. According to the chronicles, Sveneld and Svyatoslav offered to go on horseback, but he refused: “Go around, prince, on the rapids on horses, for they stand at the threshold of the Pechenegs. And Svyatoslav did not listen to him, he went on the boats. ” With the prince remained only a small squad and, apparently, the wounded.
When it became clear that not to go through the rapids, the Russian prince decided to winter on Beloberezhie, the area between the modern cities of Nikolaev and Kherson. According to the chronicles, the wintering was hard, there was not enough food, people were starving, dying from diseases. There is an opinion that Svyatoslav himself was not going to go to Kiev, he planned to continue the war and waited for reinforcements. In the spring, Governor Sveneld was to arrive with fresh forces, but he did not appear. In the spring of 972, without waiting for Sveneld, Svyatoslav moved up the Dnieper again. On the Dnieper rapids, a small squad of Svyatoslav was ambushed. Details of the last battle of Svyatoslav are unknown. One thing is clear: the Pechenegs outnumbered the Svyatoslav warriors in number, the Russian soldiers were exhausted by the hard winter. The whole squad of the Grand Duke fell in this unequal section. The Pechenezh prince Smoking ordered to make a bowl-brother from the skull of a great warrior and to enclose it with gold. It was believed that since the glory and wisdom of the Grand Duke will be transferred to its winners. Raising the cup, the Pechenezh prince said: "Let our children be like him!"
Ozhiganov I.Ye. Svyatoslav. Warriors of the North
The plot in Kiev
The official version of the straightforward prince-warrior, who was easily deceived by the Romans, putting the Pechenegs under attack, raises questions. Why did the prince stayed with a small retinue and chose the waterway in the boats, although he had always been flying swiftly with his cavalry, which had gone with Sveneld? If he wanted to return, he would leave with the main army. So, he was not going to return to Kiev? I waited for reinforcements that Sveneld was supposed to lead and continue the war. Why did Sveneld, who calmly reached Kiev, did not send help, did not bring the troops? The behavior of the governor is all the more strange that he did not even need to return to Kiev for help. According to the Novgorod First Chronicle, Prince Igor gave Sveneld the “feeding” of the land of the Rus streets, a large union of tribes living in the region from the Middle Dnieper region, above the rapids, to the Southern Bug and the Dniester. The princely governor could easily gain serious militia in their lands. Why did not help send the son of Svyatoslav, who ruled in Kiev - Prince Yaropolk? Why did Svyatoslav himself, who knew about the danger, not try to go the far, but safer way - through Belaya Vezha, where there were Russian outposts, along the Don?
Many historians have paid attention to this — S. M. Soloviev, D. I. Ilovaisky, B. A. Rybakov, and I. Ya. Froyanov. In our time, this strange fact was noted by the researcher of the era of Svyatoslav L. Prozorov (Svyatoslav the Great: “I am coming for you!” M., 2011.). S. M. Soloviev noted that "Sveneld, by will or bondage, hesitated in Kiev." DI Ilovaisky wrote that Svyatoslav "was waiting for help from Kiev. But, obviously, either in the Russian land at that time, the cases were in great distress, or there they did not have accurate information about the prince's position — help did not come from anywhere. ” However, Sveneld arrived in Kiev and was supposed to submit to Prince Yaropolk and the Boyar Duma a full report on the situation with Svyatoslav.
Therefore, the conclusion suggests itself that Sveneld betrayed Svyatoslav. He did not send any help to his prince and became the most influential grandee at the throne of Yaropolk, who received Kiev. Perhaps in this betrayal lies the source of the murder of Prince Oleg, the second son of Svyatoslav, the son of Sveneld - Lyut, whom he met while hunting in his possessions. Oleg asked who drives the beast? Hearing Sveneldich in response, Oleg immediately killed him. Sveneld, avenging his son, incited Yaropolk against Oleg. So, the first large-scale internecine, fratricidal war in Russia began.
In addition, Sveneld could be an instrument of the Kiev boyar-merchant elite, dissatisfied with the transfer of the residence of the Grand Duke to the Danube and the cruelty of the prince, who did not listen to the advice of the "wise." In his desire to found a new capital in Pereyaslavtse, Svyatoslav defied the Kiev boyars and merchants. Capital Kiev was relegated to the background. They could not openly confront him. But the Kiev elite was able to subordinate to its influence the young Yaropolk and tighten the matter with sending troops to help Svyatoslav, which was the cause of the death of the great commander. It is also worth noting the Khazar and Christian footprints in this matter. Kiev boyar-merchant elite has long had ties with the Khazars, had business with Khazaria. Many Khazars settled in Kiev, weaved their “nest” there. Financial and trading morality (the ideology of the "golden calf") gradually penetrated into Russia and Kiev became the main stronghold of the Khazars. It is clear that the Khazars were happy to destroy the Grand Duke, who crushed their state and did not compromise with his conscience.
In addition, L. N. Gumilev noted such a factor as the revival of the “Christian party” in the Kiev elite, which Svyatoslav defeated and driven underground during the pogrom of the mission of the Roman Bishop Adalbert in 961 year (Educating the hero and his first victory). Then Princess Olga agreed to accept the mission of Adalbert. The Roman bishop inclined the Kiev elite to the necessity of adopting Christianity from the hands of "the most Christian ruler" in Western Europe - the German King Otton. Olga listened attentively to the envoy of Rome. She was supported by part of the Kiev elite, who saw benefit in the Christianization of Kiev and Russia. There was a threat of acceptance of the "holy faith" by the Kiev elite from the hands of the envoy of Rome, which led to the vassalage of the rulers of Russia in relation to Rome and the German emperor. At that time, Christianity acted as an information weaponsthat enslaved the contiguous regions in the interests of Rome (the then "command center" of the Western world) and Constantinople. Svyatoslav harshly stopped this information-ideological diversion. Supporters of Bishop Adalbert were killed, possibly including representatives of the "Christian Party" in Kiev. The Russian prince intercepted the threads of control from a mind-losing mother and defended the conceptual and ideological independence of Russia.
The long absences of Svyatoslav from Kiev led to the fact that his most loyal associates, representatives of the so-called. "Pagan party", accompanied him in campaigns, many died in battles. As a result, the “Christian party” was revived in Kiev, which had the support of the Khazar-Jews. There were many Christians among the boyars, who had great profits from trade, and merchants. The Christian church was calm about usury and was a convenient ideology for the boyars and the merchant, prone to the "golden calf." They also opposed the transfer of the center of power to the Danube. The Joakimov Chronicle reports on Yaropolk's sympathies towards Christians and Christians in his environment. This fact is confirmed by the Nikon chronicle. Svyatoslav's return to Kiev frightened them, threatened with pogrom.
Gumilyov considers Sveneld to be the head of the surviving Christians in the army of Svyatoslav. Svyatoslav staged the execution of Christians in the army during the war with the Greeks-Romans, punishing them for their lack of courage in battle. He also promised to destroy all churches in Kiev and destroy the Christian community. Svyatoslav kept his word. Christians knew that. Therefore, it was in their vital interests to eliminate the prince and his closest associates. What role played in this conspiracy Sveneld, is unknown. We do not know whether he was the instigator or just joined the conspiracy, having decided that it would be beneficial for him. Perhaps he was just framed. There could be anything, even Sveneld’s attempts to change the situation in favor of Svyatoslav. No information available. One thing is clear, it is possible that the death of Svyatoslav is more connected with Kiev intrigues than with Byzantine ones. In this case, the Greeks and Pechenegs simply appointed the main culprits of the death of Svyatoslav. It is also possible that the interests of Constantinople and the tops of Kiev in this matter coincided, and both sides did everything to Svyatoslav died and could not continue the war with Byzantium and return to Kiev.
The value of Svyatoslav
The great Russian commander, Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich, looks more like an epic figure of Russia than a real statesman, so great is the scope of his military-political activity. Prince Svyatoslav was a politician of global significance. In a number of areas - the Volga region, the Caspian Sea, the North Caucasus, the Kuban, the Crimea, the Northern Black Sea region, the Danube region, the Balkan Peninsula and Constantinople, he actually laid the traditions and the main course of the foreign policy of Russia - the Russian kingdom - Russia - the USSR. He and his direct predecessors - Rurik, Oleg Veshchy and Igor - outlined the Russian global super-tasks, and created the First Russian Empire (united Russian state).
The acts of Svyatoslav Igorevich would not be enough for one great statesman and commander. The great Russian prince suspended the conceptual ideological invasion of Rome and Constantinople in the Russian lands (the Christianization of Russia). Svyatoslav decided centuries-old historical the task, which was still solved by his predecessors - the princes Rurik, Oleg and Igor, was crushed by the Khazar Kaganate. The Khazar "miracle-udo" - a monstrous serpent of Russian legends, leading girls and children into slavery, was destroyed. The army of Svyatoslav Igorevich destroyed the Khazar military-political elite, the army, the main cities and fortresses of the enemy, the Khazars lost power and influence over a vast territory. The Volga route, which led from Eastern Europe to the southern countries, was open to the Rus. Russian outposts appeared on the Don (Belaya Vezha). Russian steel Tmutarakan (Taman Peninsula). Rus began to gain a foothold in the Crimea - Korchev (Kerch). Rus became masters of the Northern Black Sea region. The struggle for Bulgaria and the attempt to establish itself in the Subunavia were supposed to solve the main strategic tasks in Russia in the south. The Black Sea would finally become the “Russian Sea”. At the same time, Russia brought under its control the main trade communications in the vast region from the Volga to the Danube.
The decision to move the capital from Kiev to Pereyaslavets, from the Dnieper to the Danube, also looks reasonable. During historical fractures, the capital of Russia was transferred several times: Oleg Veshchy transferred it from north to south - from Novgorod to Kiev. Then it was necessary to focus on the problem of uniting the Slav-Russian tribal unions and solve the problem of protecting the southern borders, focus on the problems of fighting the Khazars and Byzantium, for this Kiev was better suited. Andrei Bogolyubsky decided to make Vladimir the capital city, leaving Kiev, steeped in swarches, where the degenerated boyar-mercenary elite drowned all sovereign undertakings in the mud of intrigue. Tsar Peter transferred the capital to the Neva in order to secure Russia's access to the shores of the Baltic (once the Varangian) Sea. The Bolsheviks moved the capital to Moscow, since Petrograd was militarily vulnerable. It is worth noting that at present in the name of the new Russian project, which will give hope for the future of the Russian Federation, Little and White Russia, and should continue the development of Russian civilization, it is also better to transfer the capital from Moscow to the east, for example, to Nizhny Novgorod or Novosibirsk .
Svyatoslav assigned the Northern Black Sea region to Russia, strengthened in the Balkans, therefore the capital on the Danube should have assigned the region to the Rus. I must say that the Russian prince could well have known that one of the first cities called Kiev had already existed on the Danube. The transfer of the capital greatly facilitated the development and subsequent integration of new lands. Much later, in the XVIII century, the Russian Empire will have to solve the same tasks that Svyatoslav has outlined - the Caucasus, the Don, the Kuban, the Taman, the Crimea, the Danube (the Northern Black Sea region as a whole). There will be plans for the penetration of Russian influence in the Balkans, and the creation of a new capital of Slavism - Constantinople.
Unfortunately, the heirs of the great strategist, mired in feuds, quarrels and intrigues, were no longer up to the throw to the south and east. The Christian entourage of Prince Yaropolk will unleash a civil war against the "pagan" princes Oleg and Vladimir. Civil war will seriously weaken Russia. Although the individual elements of the program of Prince Svyatoslav tried to perform. In particular, Prince Vladimir captured Korsun (Chersonese). But in general, the plans and fruits of the victories of the Grand Duke were buried for many centuries. Only under Ivan the Terrible, Russia returned to the Volga region, occupying Kazan and Astrakhan (in its region there are the ruins of the Khazar capital, Itil), began to return to the North Caucasus, and plans were made to annex the Crimean peninsula. Svyatoslav, however, many historians within the framework of the "classical" history, beneficial to the masters of the West, "simplified" them as much as possible, turned them into a successful military leader, a knight without fear and reproach. Although behind the acts of a warrior, strategic plans for the construction of Great Russia (the First Russian Empire) are easily read.
The heroic deeds of Svyatoslav and his squad were forever included in the Russian military chronicle as one of the most vivid examples of the valor and military skill of the Rus-Russians. The greatness of his military art is undeniable. At the same time, Svyatoslav became an epic hero with his eternal words: "We will not disgrace the Russian land."
Svyatoslav left the Danube region, but Russia retained her conquests in the Azov region, the Volga region, kept the mouth of the Dnieper. Researchers believe that after meeting with the Byzantine emperor, when an honorable peace was concluded, returning Russia and Byzantium to the provisions of the 944 treaty of the year, the Russian army was on the Danube for some time. On the Dnieper Svyatoslav was only in the deep autumn.
At the Dnieper rapids it was already waiting for the Pechenegs. According to the official version, the Greeks (the Romans) were not going to let the formidable warrior back to Russia, realizing that he could assemble a large army, build a fleet, as princes Oleg and Igor did at one time, and return. The Byzantine chronicler John Skilitsa reports that earlier Svyatoslav had been sent to the Dnieper a master of political intrigue, Bishop Theophilus of Euchites. The bishop was carrying expensive gifts to Khan Kure and the proposal of John I Zimiscia for the conclusion of a treaty of friendship and alliance between the Pechenegs and Byzantium. The Byzantine sovereign asked the Pechenegs to no longer cross the Danube, not to attack the Bulgarian lands that now belonged to Constantinople. According to Greek sources, Zimiskhiy also asked to let Russian troops pass unhindered. The Pechenegs allegedly agreed with all the conditions, except for one thing: they did not want to let Rus.
Rusam about the refusal of the Pechenegs to miss the squad of Svyatoslav did not say anything. Therefore, Svyatoslav walked in full confidence that the Greeks had fulfilled their promise and the road was free. The Russian chronicle states that the anti-Russian-minded residents of Pereyaslavets told the Pechenegs that Svyatoslav was walking with a small retinue and with great wealth: “Svyatoslav with a small retinue goes past you to Russia, taking a lot of wealth and prisoners from the Greeks without a number. Hearing this, the Pechenegs set foot in the rapids. ” Thus, there are three versions: the Pechenegs themselves wanted to strike at Svyatoslav, the Greeks only kept silent about this; the Greeks bribed the Pechenegs; Pechenegs notified pereyaslavts-Bulgarians hostile to Svyatoslav.
The fact that Svyatoslav went to Russia in complete peace and confidence confirms the division of his army into two unequal parts. Reaching in boats to the “Island of Rusov” at the mouth of the Danube, the prince divided the army. The main forces under the leadership of the governor Sveneld went under their own power through the forests and steppes to Kiev. They arrived safely. No one dared to attack a powerful army. According to the chronicles, Sveneld and Svyatoslav offered to go on horseback, but he refused: “Go around, prince, on the rapids on horses, for they stand at the threshold of the Pechenegs. And Svyatoslav did not listen to him, he went on the boats. ” With the prince remained only a small squad and, apparently, the wounded.
When it became clear that not to go through the rapids, the Russian prince decided to winter on Beloberezhie, the area between the modern cities of Nikolaev and Kherson. According to the chronicles, the wintering was hard, there was not enough food, people were starving, dying from diseases. There is an opinion that Svyatoslav himself was not going to go to Kiev, he planned to continue the war and waited for reinforcements. In the spring, Governor Sveneld was to arrive with fresh forces, but he did not appear. In the spring of 972, without waiting for Sveneld, Svyatoslav moved up the Dnieper again. On the Dnieper rapids, a small squad of Svyatoslav was ambushed. Details of the last battle of Svyatoslav are unknown. One thing is clear: the Pechenegs outnumbered the Svyatoslav warriors in number, the Russian soldiers were exhausted by the hard winter. The whole squad of the Grand Duke fell in this unequal section. The Pechenezh prince Smoking ordered to make a bowl-brother from the skull of a great warrior and to enclose it with gold. It was believed that since the glory and wisdom of the Grand Duke will be transferred to its winners. Raising the cup, the Pechenezh prince said: "Let our children be like him!"
Ozhiganov I.Ye. Svyatoslav. Warriors of the North
The plot in Kiev
The official version of the straightforward prince-warrior, who was easily deceived by the Romans, putting the Pechenegs under attack, raises questions. Why did the prince stayed with a small retinue and chose the waterway in the boats, although he had always been flying swiftly with his cavalry, which had gone with Sveneld? If he wanted to return, he would leave with the main army. So, he was not going to return to Kiev? I waited for reinforcements that Sveneld was supposed to lead and continue the war. Why did Sveneld, who calmly reached Kiev, did not send help, did not bring the troops? The behavior of the governor is all the more strange that he did not even need to return to Kiev for help. According to the Novgorod First Chronicle, Prince Igor gave Sveneld the “feeding” of the land of the Rus streets, a large union of tribes living in the region from the Middle Dnieper region, above the rapids, to the Southern Bug and the Dniester. The princely governor could easily gain serious militia in their lands. Why did not help send the son of Svyatoslav, who ruled in Kiev - Prince Yaropolk? Why did Svyatoslav himself, who knew about the danger, not try to go the far, but safer way - through Belaya Vezha, where there were Russian outposts, along the Don?
Many historians have paid attention to this — S. M. Soloviev, D. I. Ilovaisky, B. A. Rybakov, and I. Ya. Froyanov. In our time, this strange fact was noted by the researcher of the era of Svyatoslav L. Prozorov (Svyatoslav the Great: “I am coming for you!” M., 2011.). S. M. Soloviev noted that "Sveneld, by will or bondage, hesitated in Kiev." DI Ilovaisky wrote that Svyatoslav "was waiting for help from Kiev. But, obviously, either in the Russian land at that time, the cases were in great distress, or there they did not have accurate information about the prince's position — help did not come from anywhere. ” However, Sveneld arrived in Kiev and was supposed to submit to Prince Yaropolk and the Boyar Duma a full report on the situation with Svyatoslav.
Therefore, the conclusion suggests itself that Sveneld betrayed Svyatoslav. He did not send any help to his prince and became the most influential grandee at the throne of Yaropolk, who received Kiev. Perhaps in this betrayal lies the source of the murder of Prince Oleg, the second son of Svyatoslav, the son of Sveneld - Lyut, whom he met while hunting in his possessions. Oleg asked who drives the beast? Hearing Sveneldich in response, Oleg immediately killed him. Sveneld, avenging his son, incited Yaropolk against Oleg. So, the first large-scale internecine, fratricidal war in Russia began.
In addition, Sveneld could be an instrument of the Kiev boyar-merchant elite, dissatisfied with the transfer of the residence of the Grand Duke to the Danube and the cruelty of the prince, who did not listen to the advice of the "wise." In his desire to found a new capital in Pereyaslavtse, Svyatoslav defied the Kiev boyars and merchants. Capital Kiev was relegated to the background. They could not openly confront him. But the Kiev elite was able to subordinate to its influence the young Yaropolk and tighten the matter with sending troops to help Svyatoslav, which was the cause of the death of the great commander. It is also worth noting the Khazar and Christian footprints in this matter. Kiev boyar-merchant elite has long had ties with the Khazars, had business with Khazaria. Many Khazars settled in Kiev, weaved their “nest” there. Financial and trading morality (the ideology of the "golden calf") gradually penetrated into Russia and Kiev became the main stronghold of the Khazars. It is clear that the Khazars were happy to destroy the Grand Duke, who crushed their state and did not compromise with his conscience.
In addition, L. N. Gumilev noted such a factor as the revival of the “Christian party” in the Kiev elite, which Svyatoslav defeated and driven underground during the pogrom of the mission of the Roman Bishop Adalbert in 961 year (Educating the hero and his first victory). Then Princess Olga agreed to accept the mission of Adalbert. The Roman bishop inclined the Kiev elite to the necessity of adopting Christianity from the hands of "the most Christian ruler" in Western Europe - the German King Otton. Olga listened attentively to the envoy of Rome. She was supported by part of the Kiev elite, who saw benefit in the Christianization of Kiev and Russia. There was a threat of acceptance of the "holy faith" by the Kiev elite from the hands of the envoy of Rome, which led to the vassalage of the rulers of Russia in relation to Rome and the German emperor. At that time, Christianity acted as an information weaponsthat enslaved the contiguous regions in the interests of Rome (the then "command center" of the Western world) and Constantinople. Svyatoslav harshly stopped this information-ideological diversion. Supporters of Bishop Adalbert were killed, possibly including representatives of the "Christian Party" in Kiev. The Russian prince intercepted the threads of control from a mind-losing mother and defended the conceptual and ideological independence of Russia.
The long absences of Svyatoslav from Kiev led to the fact that his most loyal associates, representatives of the so-called. "Pagan party", accompanied him in campaigns, many died in battles. As a result, the “Christian party” was revived in Kiev, which had the support of the Khazar-Jews. There were many Christians among the boyars, who had great profits from trade, and merchants. The Christian church was calm about usury and was a convenient ideology for the boyars and the merchant, prone to the "golden calf." They also opposed the transfer of the center of power to the Danube. The Joakimov Chronicle reports on Yaropolk's sympathies towards Christians and Christians in his environment. This fact is confirmed by the Nikon chronicle. Svyatoslav's return to Kiev frightened them, threatened with pogrom.
Gumilyov considers Sveneld to be the head of the surviving Christians in the army of Svyatoslav. Svyatoslav staged the execution of Christians in the army during the war with the Greeks-Romans, punishing them for their lack of courage in battle. He also promised to destroy all churches in Kiev and destroy the Christian community. Svyatoslav kept his word. Christians knew that. Therefore, it was in their vital interests to eliminate the prince and his closest associates. What role played in this conspiracy Sveneld, is unknown. We do not know whether he was the instigator or just joined the conspiracy, having decided that it would be beneficial for him. Perhaps he was just framed. There could be anything, even Sveneld’s attempts to change the situation in favor of Svyatoslav. No information available. One thing is clear, it is possible that the death of Svyatoslav is more connected with Kiev intrigues than with Byzantine ones. In this case, the Greeks and Pechenegs simply appointed the main culprits of the death of Svyatoslav. It is also possible that the interests of Constantinople and the tops of Kiev in this matter coincided, and both sides did everything to Svyatoslav died and could not continue the war with Byzantium and return to Kiev.
The value of Svyatoslav
The great Russian commander, Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich, looks more like an epic figure of Russia than a real statesman, so great is the scope of his military-political activity. Prince Svyatoslav was a politician of global significance. In a number of areas - the Volga region, the Caspian Sea, the North Caucasus, the Kuban, the Crimea, the Northern Black Sea region, the Danube region, the Balkan Peninsula and Constantinople, he actually laid the traditions and the main course of the foreign policy of Russia - the Russian kingdom - Russia - the USSR. He and his direct predecessors - Rurik, Oleg Veshchy and Igor - outlined the Russian global super-tasks, and created the First Russian Empire (united Russian state).
The acts of Svyatoslav Igorevich would not be enough for one great statesman and commander. The great Russian prince suspended the conceptual ideological invasion of Rome and Constantinople in the Russian lands (the Christianization of Russia). Svyatoslav decided centuries-old historical the task, which was still solved by his predecessors - the princes Rurik, Oleg and Igor, was crushed by the Khazar Kaganate. The Khazar "miracle-udo" - a monstrous serpent of Russian legends, leading girls and children into slavery, was destroyed. The army of Svyatoslav Igorevich destroyed the Khazar military-political elite, the army, the main cities and fortresses of the enemy, the Khazars lost power and influence over a vast territory. The Volga route, which led from Eastern Europe to the southern countries, was open to the Rus. Russian outposts appeared on the Don (Belaya Vezha). Russian steel Tmutarakan (Taman Peninsula). Rus began to gain a foothold in the Crimea - Korchev (Kerch). Rus became masters of the Northern Black Sea region. The struggle for Bulgaria and the attempt to establish itself in the Subunavia were supposed to solve the main strategic tasks in Russia in the south. The Black Sea would finally become the “Russian Sea”. At the same time, Russia brought under its control the main trade communications in the vast region from the Volga to the Danube.
The decision to move the capital from Kiev to Pereyaslavets, from the Dnieper to the Danube, also looks reasonable. During historical fractures, the capital of Russia was transferred several times: Oleg Veshchy transferred it from north to south - from Novgorod to Kiev. Then it was necessary to focus on the problem of uniting the Slav-Russian tribal unions and solve the problem of protecting the southern borders, focus on the problems of fighting the Khazars and Byzantium, for this Kiev was better suited. Andrei Bogolyubsky decided to make Vladimir the capital city, leaving Kiev, steeped in swarches, where the degenerated boyar-mercenary elite drowned all sovereign undertakings in the mud of intrigue. Tsar Peter transferred the capital to the Neva in order to secure Russia's access to the shores of the Baltic (once the Varangian) Sea. The Bolsheviks moved the capital to Moscow, since Petrograd was militarily vulnerable. It is worth noting that at present in the name of the new Russian project, which will give hope for the future of the Russian Federation, Little and White Russia, and should continue the development of Russian civilization, it is also better to transfer the capital from Moscow to the east, for example, to Nizhny Novgorod or Novosibirsk .
Svyatoslav assigned the Northern Black Sea region to Russia, strengthened in the Balkans, therefore the capital on the Danube should have assigned the region to the Rus. I must say that the Russian prince could well have known that one of the first cities called Kiev had already existed on the Danube. The transfer of the capital greatly facilitated the development and subsequent integration of new lands. Much later, in the XVIII century, the Russian Empire will have to solve the same tasks that Svyatoslav has outlined - the Caucasus, the Don, the Kuban, the Taman, the Crimea, the Danube (the Northern Black Sea region as a whole). There will be plans for the penetration of Russian influence in the Balkans, and the creation of a new capital of Slavism - Constantinople.
Unfortunately, the heirs of the great strategist, mired in feuds, quarrels and intrigues, were no longer up to the throw to the south and east. The Christian entourage of Prince Yaropolk will unleash a civil war against the "pagan" princes Oleg and Vladimir. Civil war will seriously weaken Russia. Although the individual elements of the program of Prince Svyatoslav tried to perform. In particular, Prince Vladimir captured Korsun (Chersonese). But in general, the plans and fruits of the victories of the Grand Duke were buried for many centuries. Only under Ivan the Terrible, Russia returned to the Volga region, occupying Kazan and Astrakhan (in its region there are the ruins of the Khazar capital, Itil), began to return to the North Caucasus, and plans were made to annex the Crimean peninsula. Svyatoslav, however, many historians within the framework of the "classical" history, beneficial to the masters of the West, "simplified" them as much as possible, turned them into a successful military leader, a knight without fear and reproach. Although behind the acts of a warrior, strategic plans for the construction of Great Russia (the First Russian Empire) are easily read.
The heroic deeds of Svyatoslav and his squad were forever included in the Russian military chronicle as one of the most vivid examples of the valor and military skill of the Rus-Russians. The greatness of his military art is undeniable. At the same time, Svyatoslav became an epic hero with his eternal words: "We will not disgrace the Russian land."
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