In many historical sources one can find onethe fact that he was truly a brave warrior and great military leader, Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich. A brief biography can tell us that the term of his rule was small, but still during this period he managed to significantly increase the territory of Ancient Rus. He was more likely to be a conqueror than a politician by his character, therefore he spent most of his reign in campaigns.
Presumably, we can say that he was born in940. Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich. His biography in this place is slightly different in different sources, so the exact date of birth of Igor and Olga's son is difficult to name.
At the time of his father's death, he was only three years old, so he could not lead the state alone. The country was managed by his wise mother.
In subsequent years, state affairs and internalthe policy of the prince was not interested at all. The decision of all these issues was always dealt with by the regent, who was his mother. But it was until a certain moment.
The first independent action of a youngthe ruler of Great Russia was the expulsion from his land of the bishop and all the priests who came with him, invited by Olga for the baptism and Christianization of the state. This happened in 964 and it was a matter of principle for a young man, that's why Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich decided to do the same. A brief biography of his tells that the mother tried to convert her son into the Christian faith, and he preferred to remain a pagan.
Being a great commander, he explained this to those,that can lose credibility with his squad, becoming a Christian. At the same moment of life, the independent military activity of the young ruler also began, and he spent the following years away from home.
Took his mighty army to the east againstvyatichy Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich. A brief biography of his conquering activity can tell you that he conquered this tribe and went on. This time, he decided to subdue the Khazar Khaganate.
Having reached the Volga and conquered many villages andsettlements on their way, the commander moved further to Khazaria, where he met a large army marching. In 965 the Khazars were completely a prince and his glorious squad were defeated, and their lands were ruined. After that, a short biography of Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich tells that he won a series of victories and decided to return home.
But the prince did not rest for a long time, afterfor some time the ambassador of the ruler of the Greek lands arrived to him and began to ask for help in the battle against the Bulgarians living on the Danube. Therefore, the ruler of the ancient Russian state went to the shores of this river, defeated the people living there and seized their territory.
The mean Pechenegs, bribed by the EmperorByzantium, took advantage of the absence of the prince and his squad. They surrounded Kiev, but Olga still managed to summon to his aid the ancient Russian governor Pretić, who at the same time was not far from his army. The enemies thought that it was Svyatoslav himself who was hurrying to rescue the city and hurriedly retreated. And then the prince himself returned to Kiev, driving even further the Pechenegs from the capital of Russia.
After the death of his mother, the great warrior decidedgo on a regular trip to the Bulgarian lands, and instead of himself left on the throne his sons, whom he had three. This offensive also crowned the victory of the prince, and he managed even to capture the children of the Tsar of Bulgaria.
But the new ruler of Byzantium did not have tosoul, and he sent his messengers with a demand to the prince to leave this territory. In his reply, Svyatoslav suggested that he buy the Bulgarian territory. This was the beginning of the war between these powerful states, in which virtually the entire Russian army was destroyed.
In 972after the conclusion of such an agreement, the prince safely reached the banks of the Dnieper and went on boats to his rapids. At this time, the Byzantine ruler informed the leader of the Pechenegs that the great Russian commander was going home with a small number of soldiers.
The Pechenezhsky leader took advantage of this situationand attacked him. In this battle, the whole squad and the prince Svyatoslav himself perished. A brief account of the history of the government narrates that after him the son Yaropolk ascended to the throne.
He spent most of his reign inendless battles. Some historians can quite critically speak out to the commander and say that he participated in various foreign policy adventures.
But, as the brief biography of the princeSvyatoslav Igorevich, the years of government (from 965 to 972) were not in vain. Hiking to the Khazars, as well as to the Bulgarian lands, was able to ensure the Russian state's exit to the Caspian waters.
In addition, Kievan Rus gained its own fortification post on the Tamakan Peninsula, and also won recognition as a strong and powerful state.
Since the Grand Duke was also experiencedconqueror, he knew how to rightly introduce confusion into the ranks of the enemy army, in order to subsequently break it. Just before the start of the battle, he sent his messenger to the enemy with a message in which it was written: "I'm going to you!". At first glance, it may seem that this completely contradicts common sense, but the prince had his own calculation.
This great Prince of Kiev for his short life accomplished many feats and remained in history as a wise and warlike ruler of Ancient Rus.
