A worthy descendant of the great Vladimir Monomakh,his seventh son - Yuri Dolgoruky - entered the history of Russia not only as the prince of the great Kiev and the specific Rostov-Suzdal, the founder of the city of Moscow. He left a memory of himself as a man ambitious, energetic, directly going to the goal. Ambiguous assessment of his life and activities, however, like the deeds, actions and decisions of many great military leaders of those ancient times.
The biography of Yuri Dolgoruky is rather blurred, aboutmany facts from the life of the prince historians have to guess, comparing the meager annalistic evidence. We have not received accurate information about the date of his birth: different sources call different figures, and analyzing them, one can state with certainty only that he was born in the period from 1090 to 1097th year. After the prescription of these events, we do not know which of the wives of Monomakh (the first or the second) was the mother of Yuri. And we will not focus on this fact. The main thing is that this man has accomplished many glorious deeds.
Participation in the most famous and successful campaign 1111year on the Polovtsians as part of the Russian princes' army became Yuri's first victory: the daughter of the Polovtsian khan becomes his first wife. Prince Yuri Dolgoruky, whose biography emphasizes that he could not count on the succession of the Kiev throne, being one of the younger sons of Monomakh, since 1113 he became the specific ruler of the Rostov-Suzdal principality, practically the outskirts of Russia in the interfluve of the Oka and the Volga.
Raising the city, the prince did not forget aboutspreading the Orthodox Christian faith, building magnificent temples. He is still regarded as the founder of many churches and monasteries, in particular, St. George's Monastery in Vladimir-on-Klyazma, Borisoglebsky - on the Nerli River, the Church of Our Lady in Suzdal, the Church of St. George in Vladimir and St. George's, the Church of the Savior in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky and Suzdal.
In 1120, at the behest of his father, Yuri Dolgorukyleads a successful campaign together with the Polovtsy - nomads of Turkic origin - against the Volga Bulgars, who lived on the lands of modern Tatarstan, Chuvashia, Samara and Penza regions. Yuri Dolgoruky's biography is not full of military victories - he rarely fought, but, possessing the infinite bravery and skill of the commander, he used these qualities to achieve his goals. Probably, this was a fairly educated man, who understands the whole need for the unification of the Russian lands. He participated in this process, strengthening the north-east of Russia.
Strengthening their positions in the northeast of Russia,Prince Yuri Dolgoruky aspires to the southern possessions, to the unattainable Kiev, where "a great policy is being made." It was for this activity that the chroniclers nicknamed Yuri Dolgoruky. After the death of Vladimir Monomakh in 1125, the Kiev throne was inherited by his eldest son Mstislav, then (after his death in 1139) - Yaropolk Vladimirovich, who soon gave way to Vyacheslav Vladimirovich, the sixth son of Monomakh.
Princely strife was widespread, andThe struggle for power at all times remained the most cruel and unprincipled. In the period from 1146 to 1154, Prince Yuri Dolgoruky tries to gain power in Kiev. This becomes the main goal of his life. And during this time he twice won the throne from his nephews - the sons of Mstislav, but he can not hold it. On March 20, 1155, he succeeded in assuming the right to inherit after the death of his brother and the sixth son of Monomakh, Vyacheslav Vladimirovich. Short-term rule of Yuri Vladimirovich in the city of the golden gate was not calm, but he died on May 15, 1157, having fulfilled his dream, being the Grand Duke of Kiev.
The first mention of Moscow in the ancient chroniclesdate back to 1147 year. Biography of Yuri Dolgoruky and chronicle evidence of the time argue that the construction of the city began after the meeting of the prince with Svyatoslav Olgovich in a small settlement on the Moscow River.
Biography of Yuri Dolgoruky mentions twothe prince's marriage. The first wife was a Polovchanka, whose name was not preserved in the annals, the second one was called Olga. These marriages brought Yuri eleven sons and two daughters. Unfortunately, the historical documents do not retain any details about the prince's family relations. The name of the last daughter of the ruler has not been clarified.
Characteristics of Yuri Dolgoruky from the ancient chroniclers are very unflattering: extreme unpopularity among the people of Kiev was promoted by the heavy disposition of the prince, his cunning and resourcefulness in achieving his goals.
