RuHistory

OLEG (?-912) is an old russian prince. Since 879 ruled  in Novgorod, since 882 - in Kiev. In 907 went to the war to Byzantium, in 907 and 911 concluded a treaty with it.

OLEG WAS THE FIRST PRINCE OF KIEV FROM RJURIK`S  FAMILY

It is written in the chronicles that dying Rjurik gave the power to his relative Oleg because Rjurik`s son Igor was under age at that time. Probably Oleg got the power not as a trustee of Igor but as the senior in the family. Oleg had been staying in Novgorod for three years, and then, having got an army of varygi and different tribes from Chud, Ilmens Slavs, Meri, Vesi, Krivzhichi, moved to the South. At first he captured Smolensk and then moved to the northern lands and captured Ljubech. It is not written in the chronicles whether these tribes voluntarily obeyed to Oleg or did it after the resistance. When Oleg reached Kiev  Askold and Dir already had been reigning there. The chronicles tell that Oleg being cunning called them out of the city and killed them and then captured Kiev and made it to be the capital, having said: « this city will be the mother of cities of Russia ».

He built a lot of towns with the purpose to control the conquered people and to protect them from attacks of nomads. He imposed a tribute on Ilmens Slavs, Krivzhichi and Meri. The inhabitants of Novgorod had to pay 300 gold coins annually for the maintenance of varyag's army. After that Oleg started to broaden the limits of his estate.

In 883 Drevljane were conquered by Oleg`s army, Drevljane harboured enmity towards Poles; the tribute was imposed on them, they had to give one black marten from every house. Northerners paid the tribute to Nomads; Oleg told them: « I am an enemy for nomads, but not for you » - and northerners, apparently without any resistance, agreed to pay the tribute to him. Oleg sent his people to Radimichi to ask them: « to whom you pay the tribute? ». And they answered: "to Nomads". « Do not pay to Nomads, pay to me » - said Oleg, and Radimichi began to pay the tribute to him as they paid to Nomads before.But not all the tribes were submitted so easily: it took 20 years to submit Dulebi, Horvati, Tiverci; but still it was not possible for Oleg to submit Uglichi.

In 907 Oleg went with the campaign to Greeks, having left Igor in Kiev. The army of Oleg consisted of Varyagi, Ilmens Slavs, Chudi, Krivichi, Meri, Polyane, Northerners, Drevljane, Radmichi, Horvati, Dulebi and Tiverci. They went on the horses and the ships. there were 2000 ships with them, and in each ship was 40 persons. The chronicles adorned the story about this campaign with different types of the legends. While Russian army was approaching to Constantinople, Greeks closed the entry to the harbour " the Gold Horn " and locked the city. Oleg disembarked to the land and started to ruin the environs, to destroy buildings and temples, to beat the inhabitants. But he desired too much to get into the fabulous city and then, as it is written in the chronicle, Oleg thought up an unprecedented slyness. Having pulled out to the coast the ships, he ordered to put them on the wheels. They hoisted the sails and having caught the wind the ships moved over the land as over the sea. Greeks were very frightehed and sent the ambassadors with the request  not to destroy the city and offered to pay a tribute to Oleg. But Greeks tried to be cunning too: they tried to poison Oleg having sent the poisoned meal to him. But they hadn`t succeed and they had to carry on negotiations. The contract with Byzantium was the first international document of the young state .

Alongside with the payment of the tribute Greeks began to have the trade relations with Kiev. It is interesting to know that there was the following term in the contract :  Russians could live only near Saint Mum in Konstantinopol, officials had to copy their names; they could enter the city only without having the weapon and no more than fifty persons at one time followed by the imperial official. They could have the duty-free trade.

Emperors Lion and Alexander kissed a cross when that contract was sighned, Oleg and Russians swore to the weapon, the god Perun and the god Volos according to the russian custom. His written in the chronicles that coming back home Oleg ordered to his people to make the silk sails for Russians and the linen ones for Slavs. And the soldiers hung up their shields on the gates of Tsargrad as a token of their victory. Oleg came back to Kiev with the gold, expencive materials, vegetables, wine and jewels.

In 911 a treaty was concluded in Constantinople. It contained the legal norms of interrelationship between Russian and Greeks. The writer of the chronicle listed all the main points of this contract. It is surprising that Slavs managed to accept the fundamental laws of the Christian state so quickly: according to that laws they punish for the murder, the larceny and the false testimony. The validity of witnesses`evidences was proved by an oath according to the ceremonies of the religion. For the grave crimes the death was used as punishment, for the larceny - the fines were put on in favour of the victims.

The parties agreed about the mutual help in other countries, for example to ransom from the captivity any Russian or Greek and to take him to his home where his relatives would return the money.

After the conclusion of the treaty the emperor of Byzantian presented Russian ambassadors with gold, clothes, materials and according to the custom  gave them the men who took them to the churches, showed the riches and taught them the doctrine of the Christ belief. After the conclusion of the treaty ambassadors came back to Kiev with the rich gifts (in 912). In the Autumn of the same year, according to the legend of the chronicles, Oleg died and was buried in Kiev in Shchekovitsa. The place of Oleg`s grave is written in the chronicles according to the not quite authentic legend; there is also another legend according which Oleg died during the campaign to the north and was buried in Ladoga, Oleg had been reigning for 33 years, since 879 (the year of death of Rjurik) till 912; but the chronology of the first pages of the initial chronicle is extremely confused and inexact.