The first attempts at administrative-territorial division of our lands can be considered the existence of principality lands during the times of Kievan Rus.
In the 9th-12th centuries, the territory of modern Ukraine was divided into Chernigov-Seversk, Pereyaslavl, Volyn and Galician lands. All of them were part of the Kyiv state.
From the middle of the 12th century, the process of decline of the Kyiv state began. Heir to political and cultural traditions The Principality of Galicia-Volyn becomes Kievan Rus. In the XIII - first half of the XIV centuries. The Galician-Volyn principality included a significant part of the Ukrainian ethnic territory.
With the death of Yuri II Boleslav in 1340, the decline of the Galician-Volyn state began. In the second half of the 14th century. Most of the Ukrainian lands were captured by foreign powers. For example, Lithuania conquered part of Volyn, Brest and Dorogochinsk lands, Chernigovo-Severshchina, Kyiv and Podolsk lands.
In 1387, as a result of a long-term war between Poland, Hungary and Lithuania, Galicia was annexed to the Kingdom of Poland.
At the beginning In the 1440s, the Volyn and Kiev principalities were restored. However, in the second half of the 15th century, after the death of Svidrigail and Semyon Olelkovich, they were finally liquidated and transformed into Lithuanian provinces. In their place, the Kiev, Bratslav and Volyn voivodships were created, which were governed by grand-ducal governors - voivodes.
After the conclusion of the Union of Lublin between Poland and Lithuania in 1569, all Ukrainian lands, with the exception of Brest and Dorogochinsk, Transcarpathia, Bukovina and Chernihiv region, came under the direct authority of the Kingdom of Poland.
Portolan of the Black Sea basin. By Agnes Battista, 1550. On the map - Rus', Tartary and Muscovy_2.jpg)
Starting in 1608, for about 300 years, Ukraine appeared on political map world sporadically.
In particular, in the years 1608-1615, the borders of the Cossacks at that time independent state were not stable, and after some time it generally went to Muscovy. In 1618, Chernigovo-Siverschyna came under Polish rule.
At the beginning of the 17th century. The territory of present-day Ukraine was divided between Poland and Russia. Over the next 35 years, Poland's territory continued to expand, but the division between the two states still remained.
"Typus Generalis Vkraine" (General description of Ukraine). Author - Johann Jansonius, 1649
Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine as part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Author - Carlo Alard, 1670
"Vkraine ou Pays des Cosaques" (Ukraine - the state of the Cossacks). Author - Guillaume Sanson, 1674
"Ukraine grand pays de la Russie Rouge avec une partie de la Pologne, Moscovie..." ( Big country- , Red Rus', bordering Poland, Russia, Wallachia...). Author - Pierre van Der, 1710
"Amplissima Ucraniae Regio..." (Ukraine and regions). Author - Tobias Conrad Lotter, 1770
During the Russian-Turkish wars of the 18th century. The lands of the "Wild Field" were populated. It was then that it was founded Largest cities modern Southern Ukraine: Elizavetgrad (Kirovograd, 1775), Ekaterinoslav (Dnepropetrovsk, 1776), Kherson (1778), Nikolaev (1789) and Odessa (1794).
As a result of the second and third partitions of Poland in 1793-1795. Right Bank Ukraine and Volyn were annexed to Russia. Galicia, Bukovina and Transcarpathia remained part of Austria-Hungary.
And in 1812, Bessarabia (Moldova and Burjak) was annexed to Russia.
XX century was marked by the appearance of Ukraine on the political map of the world.
Historical map of the Ukrainian State during the time of Hetman Pavlo Skoropadsky, October 1918
The limits of Ukraine, which were declared by the UPR at the Paris Peace Conference. 1919
1923 - the eastern part of Ukraine became part of Soviet Union, and in 1939 the western territories joined it.
"Modern division of the Eastern Slavs by language." Atlas of Kudryashov as part of the "Russian Historical Atlas", 1928
Map of the Ukrainian SSR, 1931
Map of Ukraine between the two world wars
Map of the USSR, 1940. Pocket Atlas of the USSR, 11th ed.
In 1954, in accordance with the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, the USSR became part of the Ukrainian SSR.
What a modern map of Ukraine looks like:
You can also view the infographic of changes in the borders of Ukraine in the video:
The power of one person over another destroys, first of all, the ruler.
Lev Tolstoy
The Vladimir-Suzdal Principality and its history - an important page Russian history, since already at the turn of the 12th-13th centuries it was the princes from Vladimir who achieved dominance over other principalities, as a result of which it was the Vladimir-Suzdal land that began to dominate in Rus', and its princes began to exert the greatest influence on the politics and ways of not only their principality, but also to the neighboring ones. In fact, by the 13th century, the political center of Rus' was finally transferred from the South (Kyiv) to the Northeast (Vladimir and Suzdal).
Geographical position
The Vladimir-Suzdal principality was located in the northeastern part of Rus', between the Oka and Volga rivers.
Map of the Vladimir-Suzdal land in the 12th-13th centuries
The largest cities in the principality: Vladimir, Suzdal, Uglich, Tver, Moscow, Kostroma, Galich, Beloozero, Veliky Ustyug and others. Mostly the cities were located in the southern part of the principality, and the further north you went, the fewer cities there were.
The borders of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality passed from: Novgorod Republic, Smolensk principality, Chernigov land, Ryazan and Murom principalities.
Princes
At the Lyubechsky Congress of Princes, it was decided that the Rostov-Suzdal land (as the principality was originally called) was transferred to the management of the family of Vladimir Monomakh. Therefore, Yuri Dolgoruky, the son of Monomakh, became the first prince here.
Full list of princes:
- Yuri Dolgoruky (reigned 1125-1155)
- Andrey Bogolyubsky (1157-1174)
- Vsevolod the Big Nest (1176 - 1212)
- Yuri Vsevolodovich (1218 - 1238)
- Yaroslav Vsevolodovich (1238-1246)
- Alexander Nevsky (from 1252).
It is enough to look at the list to understand that these were the people who enjoyed the greatest influence in Rus'. The Vladimir-Suzdal princes mainly pursued the goal of independence from Kyiv and the subordination of other principalities to their power.
Peculiarities
The political features of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality consisted in the strong power of the prince. Unlike most other lands, here the prince was the head and decided all important issues. Schematically, the political features of a given land can be represented as follows.
The strong power of the prince was possible due to the fact that in these lands there was a large number of new cities, where a strong boyars had not yet formed. As a result, only the prince had real power, and the Veche was only advisory in nature.
In general, the features of the development of the principality in the appanage period (12-13 centuries) are as follows:
- Unlimited princely power.
- Population increase. People moved to these lands because they were relatively safe from raids by nomads.
- Agriculture was actively developing in the principality. There were many forests that served as natural protection.
- Rapid growth of cities. This applies both to new cities built during this period (Moscow, Pereyaslavl-Zalessky and others) and to old cities (Vladimir, Suzdal, Rostov, Yaroslavl and others).
- Geographical location at the intersection of important trade routes along the Volga and Oka.
Economic features
Despite geographical position, The Vladimir-Suzdal land had a large amount of arable land, which made Agriculture key aspect economic development region. Also, other industries actively developed in these lands: fishing, hunting, beekeeping.
The resettlement of people from the south played a great influence on the economic development of the principality. They not only moved, but also carried elements of culture with them. Many of them were artisans, as a result of which the craft in the Vladimir-Suzdal land began to develop very quickly.
Development
Around the 30s of the 12th century, the Vladimir-Suzdal (at that time still Rostov-Suzdal) principality got rid of the power of Kyiv. This is how the creation of their own principality took place, which was significantly different from others in form. political structure. Princely power was strong in Vladimir. In many ways, this was the reason for the rise of these lands over others. Suffice it to remember that in other principalities the system of government was different and less effective: in Novgorod the boyars ruled through the Veche, and in the Galicia-Volyn lands the power of the prince was comparable to the power of the boyars.
Initially, the principality was called Rostov-Suzdal (under Dolgoruky), then Suzdal land (under Bogolyubsky) and only then Vladimir-Suzdal land (under Bolshoye Gnezdo).
An important event for this principality happened in 1238 - it was attacked by the Tatar-Mongols. Moreover, this was one of the first principalities for the Mongol invasion, so the Vladimir-Suzdal land suffered the main blow. As a result, from 1238 the principality recognized Mongol power and was dependent on the Horde.
Culture
The culture of the Vladimir-Suzdal land has developed multifaceted. Chronicle writing flourished here. A characteristic feature of the chronicles of this principality is emphasizing the greatness of the principality over others, as well as the special position of the city of Vladimir.
Architecture and construction actively developed in these lands. Builders most often used white limestone. The peak of construction occurred during the reign of Andrei Bogolyubsky and Vsevolod the Big Nest.
In the city of Vladimir, stone walls with golden gates were erected, and the Assumption Cathedral was built. It was in this temple that the main religious shrines of the principality were kept. Later, during the reign of Vsevolod the Big Nest, St. Demetrius Cathedral was built in the city. One of the most unique architectural monuments Ancient Rus' - Church of the Intercession on the Nerl. The church was built by order of Andrei Bogolyubsky on the banks of the Nerl River.
The development of painting is also noteworthy. For example, the frescoes of the Assumption and Demetrius Cathedrals amaze with their grace.
RUSSIAN LANDS AND PRINCIPALITIES in the XII - early XIII centuries. Fragmentation of Rus'.
The fight against the Polovtsians in the second half of the 12th century.
Since the 30s. XII century Rus' entered a new period in its history - a period of political (state) fragmentation, which was a natural stage in the development of all large European states.
After the death of Mstislav the Great in 1132, a time came that the Russian chronicler described with the words: “the whole Russian land was in rage.” Among the descendants of Yaroslav the Wise and Vladimir Monomakh, a struggle began for possession of the Kyiv throne. And although the Grand Duke of Kiev lost his former power in Rus', he was nominally considered the “oldest” Russian prince, and many wanted to receive such an honorary title. The struggle for Kyiv was extremely fierce. From 1132 to 1169, the grand-ducal throne changed hands 14 times. In 1169, squads of 11 Russian princes and Polovtsian khans took part in the storming and destruction of Kyiv.
By the middle of the 12th century. Rus' broke up into 15 independent principalities. Half a century later there were already 50 of them. One of the reasons for this state of statehood
(Pechenegs, Polovtsians) to the southern Russian lands for centuries slowed down their overall progress, caused the decline of Kyiv as the center of united Rus', reduced the importance of the trade route “from the Varangians to the Greeks,” and led to an outflow of the population to quieter regions of North-Eastern Rus'.
in Rus' there were princely divisions of land between the Rurikovichs, their endless internecine wars and new redistributions of land.
But behind the princely strife there were deeper reasons that led Rus' to a period of fragmentation. Within the framework of a single Old Russian state, over three centuries, independent economic regions emerged, cities grew, large patrimonial farms and church estates were formed. Next to the local prince, powerful feudal groups of patrimonial boyars with their vassals formed; A wealthy elite of cities grew up, which, in addition to princes, boyars and clergy, included merchants and owners of large craft workshops. Now they all wanted to have power not in distant Kyiv, but their own, local, which would know better and more decisively defend their interests. In addition, the raids of nomads
With the collapse of Rus' into independent principalities, the once unified and powerful defense of the country was fragmented into separate lands. Militarily and politically, Rus' became much weaker, which the Polovtsians took advantage of. Their raids on Rus' became especially frequent in the 70-80s. XII century This forced the princes to periodically combine their forces to repel the enemy. Thus, in 1184, the united Russian army, led by the Kyiv prince Svyatoslav, inflicted a major defeat on the steppe inhabitants of Khan Kobyak.
In 1185, Prince of Novgorod-Seversk Igor Svyatoslavich also opposed the Polovtsians. He was joined by squads from Trubchevsk, Putivl, Rylsk and a detachment of the Chernigov prince. Moving south, the united Russian army on the Syurlia River met the advanced forces of Khan Konchak and defeated them. But the next day the main forces of the Polovtsians surrounded Igor’s army. On May 12, in a fierce battle near the Kayala River, the Russian squads were defeated. Prince Igor was captured, but he managed to escape. The campaign of the Novgorod-Seversk prince is reflected in a wonderful monument of ancient Russian literature - “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign.” The author of the Lay calls on the Russian princes to stop strife and sets them as examples of Yaroslav the Wise and Vladimir Monomakh, under whom Rus' was a unified state and defeated its enemies.
But the political collapse of the Old Russian state was never complete; it did not lead to the decline of Rus'. New cities were built, new lands were developed, major centers crafts, trade and culture, the forces that contributed to the unity of the country were preserved. In all the principalities and lands lived people who made up a single ancient Russian nationality. They spoke the same language, professed the same religion, and continued to live according to laws, the basis of which were the norms of Russian Truth. In addition to all this, the idea of uniting all forces to combat external danger was constantly preserved in the Russian lands.
