Читать книгу 100 Key Ukrainian Personalities - Юрий Сорока - Страница 6

Princess Olha’s, Ihor’s wife, date of birth and origin are unknown. Historians’ suggestions can be divided into four groups. Olha’s origin is ascribed to Pskov, Kyiv, Galych and Bulgaria. The Tale of Bygone Years by Nestor Chornoryasnyk runs as follows-

“…Ihor grew up and went to levy tributes after Oleh. People listened to him and brought him a wife from Pleskov, Olha by name”.

We understand that chronicles provide only approximate data on Olha’s life. Some historians view 910 as the year of her birth. In that case, Olha married Ihor about 930. It was proved by the chronicles that mention Olha was not the only wife of Prince Ihor, that fact might have caused Nestor the Chronicler’s mistake.

М. Nesterov. Saint Princess Olha. A design from the Kyiv Volodymyr Cathedral

Olha’s real talent as a political leader manifested itself after Ihor’s death. Taking the responsibility of ruling Kyivan Rus’ till Sviatoslav, her son, came of age, Olha proved that she could lead domestic and foreign policy of the princedom no worse than men. One of the first actions of hers, recorded in the chronicles, was the act of revenge on the Drevlians for her husband’s murder. Viewing Olha as a weak opponent, Mal, Drevlian Prince, sent an embassy to Kyiv and proposed to Olha, thus trying to unite Iskorosten and Kyiv.

“And the Drevlians tell her, “We have been sent by the Drevlian land to tell you this: your husband was killed since he stole from us and robbed us as a wolf. And our princes are kind as they have made our land rich. So marry our prince, our Mal”.

However, the proposal was fatal both for Mal himself and his embassy. Olha ordered to kill ambassadors and then set off to the Drevlian lands and burnt Iskorosten’ down.

“And Olha ordered her soldiers to catch them. And when she took the town, she burnt it down. And she burnt down the elders, killing other people as well”.

Later, Olha continued Kyivan princes’ foreign policy whose foundations were laid by Askold and Dir. First of all, it was, strengthening the relations with the Byzantine Empire. It is known that in 946 and in 957 Olha visited Tsargorod and the chronicles inform us about the visits in detail. Two pacts were signed between the allies then according to which Kyivan warriors were to serve the Emperor and Byzantium was to pay a tribute to Rus’ for that. During one of the visits to Tsargorod, Princess Olha was solemnly baptized. She was baptized by the Orthodox patriarch. The ritual was held in the Sophia Cathedral, the main cathedral in the Empire. Historians believe that the next Olha’s step might have been the introduction of Cristianity in Rus’ but due to unknown reasons, it did not happen.

As chronicles say, Olha transferred the reign to her son, Sviatoslav, in 964. Some researchers think that it was done under the pressure of Sviatoslav himself who was considered an ardent Pagan. That version also accounts for Olha’s unsuccessful attempt to introduce Christianity in Rus’. Olha died in 969 in Kyiv and the church chronicle registered that.

Olha’s Revenge on Drevlians’ idols. Print by F. Bruni