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The Smolensk principality was short in the 12th and 13th centuries. Control work history and culture of Smolensk and the Smolensk region

View of the city of Smolensk. 1814 Unknown. thin 1st floor 19th century

City `s history

Smolensk, center of the Smolensk region and Smolensky district. It is located in the upper reaches of the Dnieper (pier), between the Dukhovshchinskaya and Krasninsko-Smolenskaya uplands. Population 356 thousand people.

First mentioned in the annalistic code under 862-865. It was the center of the Slavic tribe of the Krivichi, a large trading and craft settlement on the ancient trading way“from Varangian to the Greeks”. With 882 in the composition Kievan Rus, from the 12th century. center Smolensk principality. In 1404-1514 it was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, then - in the Muscovite state; after the construction of a stone fortress wall in 1596-1602 - the most important Russian fortress on the western border. After the Smolensk defense in 1609-11, it was captured by Poland, returned to Russia under the Andrusovo truce of 1667. From 1708 the center of Smolensk province, in 1719-26 - the Smolensk province of the Riga province, from 1776 - the Smolensk viceroy (from 1796 - the province). During the Patriotic War of 1812, the Battle of Smolensk took place in the Smolensk region.

During Great Patriotic War the Battle of Smolensk in 1941 took place here, which delayed the advance of the Nazi troops on Moscow for 3 months.

The historical center of Smolensk is surrounded by powerful fortress walls with towers (1596-1600), in the ensemble of the Cathedral Mountain - the Cathedrals of the Assumption (1677-1740) and the Epiphany (1787), the Church of St. John the Baptist (1703-80; restored), the bishop's house (1770) And others have also been preserved: churches - Peter and Paul (1146), Michael the Archangel (Svirskaya, 1194), John the Theologian (1160, rebuilt in the 18th century), St. George's (1782), Resurrection (1765), Transfiguration Savior (1766) ; Ensemble of the Trinity Monastery with the Cathedral (1738-40), Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral Spaso-Avraamiev Monastery(1755), Churches of the Ascension (1700) and Akhtyrskaya (1830) Ascension Monastery.

Smolensk principality

PRINCIPALITY OF SMOLENSK, an ancient Russian principality that occupied territories along the upper reaches of the Dnieper. Of the cities in the Smolensk principality, in addition to Smolensk, Toropets, Orsha, and later Mstislavl, Mozhaisk were of great importance. The political isolation of Smolensk began in the 1030s. The principality of Smolensk became independent under Prince. Rostislav Mstislavich (1127 - 59), grandson Vladimir Monomakh. Under him, it expanded significantly and reached its greatest prosperity and power. In 1136, a diocese was established in the Principality of Smolensk, which later received lands and privileges. Under the successors of Roman Rostislavich (1160 - 80), the Smolensk principality began to be divided into destinies and its influence on all-Russian affairs began to decrease. At the same time, the principality of Smolensk was attacked by German crusaders and Lithuanian princes. In the 2nd floor. 13th century Mozhaisk and Vyazemsky appanages emerged from the Smolensk principality. This weakened the Smolensk principality in the fight against the Lithuanian princes. Book. Svyatoslav Ivanovich (1358 - 86) waged an energetic struggle with Lithuania for the independence of the Smolensk principality, but was defeated and died in the battle on the river. Vehre. The Smolensk principality was captured by the Lithuanian Prince. Vitovtom. In 1401, an uprising took place in the Principality of Smolensk against the rule of the Lithuanians. The Smolensk people put Yuri Svyatoslavich on the Smolensk table. But in 1404 Smolensk was again taken by Vitovt. The Smolensk principality lost its political independence. It became part of the Polish-Lithuanian state. Smolensk land was returned to Russia in 1514, captured by Poland in 1618 and returned again in 1667.

G. Gorelov

Photo album

Smolensk Kremlin XVI-XVII centuries. Modern look.
Photo A.N. Savelyeva. 2008

Wall of the Smolensk Kremlin. Eagle Tower (Gorodetskaya).
Photo A.N. Savelyeva. 2008

Smolensk Kremlin, Kopytensky (Kopytitsky, Kopychinsky) gates.
Photo A.N. Savelyeva. 2008

Smolensk. Church of Peter and Paul of the 12th century (right). And the church of Barbara of the XVIII century.
Photo A.N. Savelyeva. 2008

Smolensk. Church of Michael the Archangel XII century.
Photo A.N. Savelyeva. 2008

Smolensk. Assumption Cathedral of the 18th century.
Photo A.N. Savelyeva. 2008

Smolensk princes:

Gleb Konstantinovich (col. 12). From the kind of Smolensk Prince. Ancestor of the Fominsky princes. Son of Konstantin Davydovich

Andrey Vladimirovich Dolgaya Ruka (col. 12). Ancestor of the Vyazemsky princes. Son of Vladimir Rurikovich. + 1223 Andrey was taken prisoner by the Tatars after the Battle of Kalka and crushed under the boards along with other princes.

Rostislav Mstislavich (c. 1110 - 03/17/1168) (IX knee) - Prince of Smolensk (1125 - 1160), Prince of Novgorod (1153), Grand Duke of Kiev (1154, 1159 - 1168)

Elena has been wife since 1163 of Kazimierz II (Casimir II the Just) (1138 - 05/05/1194), Prince of Krakow (see Poland. Piasts)

Mstislav Rostislavich the Brave (? - 07/11/1180) (X knee) - Prince of Smolensk (1175 - 1177), Prince of Novgorod (1179 - 1180), Prince of Belgorod (1161, 1171 - 1173) married for the first time to the daughter of Gleb Rostislavich (see Ryazan princes), the second time on the unknown

Roman Rostislavich (? - 1180) (XI tribe) - Prince of Smolensk (1160 - 1172, 1177 - 1180), Grand Duke of Kiev (1171 - 1173, 1175 - 1177), Prince of Novgorod (1178 - 1179) married from 01/09/1148 to daughters of Svyatoslav Olgovich (col. VIII)

Davyd Rostislavich (1140 - 04/23/1197) (XI knee) - Prince of Novgorod (1154), Prince of Torzhsky (1158 - 1161), Prince of Vitebsk (1165 - 1167), Prince of Vyshgorodsky (1167 - 1180), Prince of Smolensk (1180 - 1197 )

Svyatoslav Rostislavich (? - 1169) (X knee) - Prince of Novgorod (1158 - 1160, 1162 - 1168)

Agafya Rostislavna (X knee) - the second wife since 1165 of Oleg Svyatoslavich (col. IX) (see Novgorod - Seversky princes)

Rurik Rostislavich (? - 1214) (X knee) - Prince of Novgorod (1170 - 1171), Prince of Belgorod (1173 - 1194), Grand Duke of Kiev (1173, 1180 - 1182, 1194 - 1202, 1203 - 1205, 1206, 1207 - 1210), Prince Chernigov (1210 - 1214) married for the first time since 1163 to the daughter of the Polovtsian Khan Belguk, the second time to kzh. Anna, daughter of Yuri Yaroslavich (see Turov princes). Tatishchev has a mention under 1211 to his third wife Anna Vsevolodovna

Mstislav - Boris Davydovich the Elder (? - 1189) (XI tribe) - Prince of Novgorod (1184 - 1187), Vyshgorodsky (1187 - 1189)

Rostislav Davydovich (XI tribe) - mentioned under 1219

Predslava Rurikovna (XI tribe) - wife until 1203 of Roman Mstislavovich the Brave the Great (col. XI) (see Princes of Vladimir-Volynsk)

Vseslava Rurikovna (XI knee) - wife since 1198 of Yaroslav Glebovich (col. X) (see Ryazan princes)

Mstislav - Fedor Davydovich the Younger (1193 - 1230) (XI tribe) - Prince of Smolensk (1219 - 1230)

Konstantin Davydovich (? - 1218) (XI knee)

Vladimir Rurikovich (autumn 1187 - 03/03/1239) (XI knee) - Prince Pereyaslavsky (1206 - 1213), Grand Duke of Kiev (1224 - 1235), Prince of Smolensk (1213 - 1219). Anna's son

Rostislav Rurikovich (1173 - c. 1218) (XI tribe) - Prince Torchesky (1195 - 1205), Grand Duke of Kiev (1205), Prince Vyshgorodsky (1205 - 1210), Prince Galitsky (1207) married from 09/26/1189 to kzh. Verkhuslav, daughter of Vsevolod the Big Nest . Anna's son

Anastasia Rurikovna (XI knee) - wife since 1183 of Gleb Svyatoslavich (col. X) (see Princes of Chernigov)

Izmaragda - Euphrosyne Rostislavna (1198 -?) (XI knee)

Andrey Dolgaya Ruka (? - 6.1223) (XII generation) married to the daughter of Mstislav Romanovich the Old (see Descendants of Roman Rostislavovich). In the Battle of Kalka in 1223, he was taken prisoner along with other princes. Crushed by the boards on which the Tatars sat down to feast. Another version of the origin is presented (see Smolensk princes (continued))

Marina (XII knee) - wife of Vsevolod Yurievich (see Princes of Vladimir-Suzdal)

Alexander Glebovich (col. 14) Son of Gleb Rostislavich. Book. Smolensky in 1297 - 1313 + 1313 Alexander took Smolensk from his uncle Fyodor Rostislavich Cherny. In 1298, Fedor went to Alexander with a large army, stood near Smolensk for a long time and fought hard, but could not take the city and returned to Yaroslavl without success. In 1301, Alexander and his brother Roman besieged Dorogobuzh and did a lot of harm to its inhabitants by taking away their water. Prince Andrei Afanasyevich Vyazemsky came to the aid of the besieged, and Alexander, wounded, having lost his son, had to retreat from the city with great loss.

Vasily Ivanovich (col. 16) From the family of Smolensk princes. Son of Ivan Alexandrovich. Book. Selekhovsky + 1397. In 1396, Vasily was expelled from his parish by the Lithuanians and took refuge in Novgorod

Vasily Alexandrovich (col. 15) From the family of the Smolensk princes. Son of Alexander Glebovich. Book. Bryansk until 1309 and in 1310 - 1314 + 1314 In 1309 Vasily was expelled from Bryansk by his uncle Svyatoslav Glebovich. Vasily went to the Horde to complain to the Khan and next year came near Bryansk with the Tatar army. In the battle, the Bryansk people were defeated, and Svyatoslav died. Vasily captured Bryansk again and in the same year went with the Tatars to Karachev and killed the local prince Svyatoslav Mstislavich

Gleb Svyatoslavich (col. 15) From the family of Smolensk princes. Son of Svyatoslav Glebovich. Book. Bryansk. + Dec 6 1340 According to the chronicler, the Bryansk, evil seditious, met in vechem and killed Gleb, despite the exhortations of Metropolitan Theognost

Gleb Rostislavich (col. 13) From the family of Smolensk princes. Son of Rostislav Mstislavich. Book. Smolensky in 1249-1278 + 1278

Read further:

Smolensk Princes(genealogical table).

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Smolensk Principality of Liechtenstein, Smolensk Principality of Monaco

Capital Smolensk Religion Orthodoxy Population Eastern Slavs, Balts, Golyad Form of government Monarchy Story - 1127 Based - 1404 Became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Smolensk principality, Grand Duchy of Smolensk- Russian principality in the upper reaches of the rivers Dnieper, Volga and Western Dvina in the XII-XIV centuries. The capital is the city of Smolensk. The route from the Varangians to the Greeks passed through the principality and was an important source of income for its rulers.

The principality included many cities, including: Bely, Vyazma, Dorogobuzh, Yelnya, Zhizhets, Zubtsov, Izyaslavl (location not established), Krasny, Krichev, Medyn, Mozhaisk, Mstislavl, Orsha, Rzhev, Rostislavl, Rudnya, Slavgorod, Toropets.

  • 1. History
    • 1.1 Early history of the principality (from the 9th century to 1127)
    • 1.2 The heyday of the Smolensk principality under the Rostislavichs (from 1127 to 1274)
    • 1.3 Loss of independence by the principality and its gradual disintegration (from 1274 to 1404)
  • 2 The further fate of the Smolensk land
  • 3 See also
  • 4 Notes
  • 5 Literature
  • 6 Links

Story

Rus' XI century

Early history of the principality (from the 9th century to 1127)

The Nikon chronicle under the year 875 reports on Askold's successful campaign against the Krivichi. In 882, before capturing Kyiv, Oleg the Prophet planted his governors in Smolensk. The first governor of Smolensk from the Rurik dynasty was Stanislav Vladimirovich. According to the will of Yaroslav the Wise in 1054, Vyacheslav Yaroslavich became the prince of Smolensk, who died three years later, after which Igor Yaroslavich was transferred from Volyn to Smolensk by the elder Yaroslavichs. He died in 1060, and the tribute from the Smolensk land was divided into three parts by the three elder Yaroslavichs.

The annalistic news that Vladimir Monomakh, having taken the throne of Kiev in 1113, transferred his son Svyatoslav from Smolensk to Pereyaslavl, shows the Smolensk land under the rule of Monomakh in the period after the Lyubech Congress of 1097.

The heyday of the Smolensk principality under the Rostislavichs (from 1127 to 1274)

During the reign of Mstislav the Great (1125-1132), the Smolensk table was received by his son Rostislav (prince of Smolensk in 1127-1160), who was able to stay in Smolensk during the strife of 1132-1167 and became the ancestor of the dynasty of Smolensk princes Rostislavich. If Rostislav Mstislavich adhered to a defensive strategy (1155) and received the reign of Kiev through the efforts of his Volyn and Galician allies (1159, 1161), as the eldest in the Monomakhovich family, then his sons and grandsons turn the principality into a base of their influence in all parts of Rus'. The most notable were the exit of the Rostislavichs from subordination to Andrei Bogolyubsky (1172), assistance to the opponents of the younger Yurievichs (1174-1175) and Konstantin Vsevolodovich (1216) during the struggle for power in the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. After the death in 1197 of the Smolensk prince Davyd Rostislavich, uncle of Mstislav Romanovich, the latter was recognized as the prince of Smolensk and annexed the Mstislav principality to Smolensk, retaining it, however, as an inheritance. There was also a successful series of campaigns (inspired and organized by the famous Mstislav Udatny), directed against the Chud (1209, 1212), who established the influence of the Smolensk princes in Kiev (1212) and Galich (1215, 1219) and opposed the seizures of the Order of the Sword in the Baltic States (1217 , 1219).

From the end of the 12th century, the trade of Smolensk with Riga and Visby on Gotland expanded. Wax was the main export, followed by honey and furs. Imports consisted mainly of cloth, later sources also mention stockings, ginger, candied peas, almonds, smoked salmon, sweet wines, salt, spurs.

Svirskaya Church - one of the surviving architectural monuments of the Smolensk Principality

The reign of Mstislav Davydovich (1219-1230) also accounted for the strengthening of the Smolensk principality, associated with the situation in the Polotsk principality. The onslaught of Lithuania began in the XII century. To the constant raids were added defeats from the German knights of the Order of the Sword. As a result, Polotsk lost a number of lands in Livonia (Gersik Principality, Kukeynos Principality). At the same time, the influence and authority of the Smolensk princes, who were also at war with Lithuania, was growing in it. After the death of Vladimir Polotsk in 1216, his principality weakened, discord began between the specific princes. The weakening of Polotsk was unfavorable for its neighbors - Novgorod and Smolensk. And then, in order to put an end to the unrest in the Polotsk Land, in 1222 Mstislav Davidovich brought Smolensk troops into the Polotsk land, took Polotsk and seated Svyatoslav Mstislavich, the eldest son of Mstislav Romanovich of Kiev, on the princely table.

The battle on the Kalka River (1223) undermined the military capabilities of the Smolensk princes, and in the following decades the importance of the Smolensk principality falls, for a successful defense against Lithuania, it is forced to resort to the help of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality in 1225 (Battle of Usvyat), 1239, 1244-1245 . In 1230 an earthquake occurs, then a famine lasts for two years. The result of the famine was pestilence, which claimed a very large number of lives in all the cities of the volost. After the death of Mstislav Davydovich, Prince Svyatoslav Mstislavich of Polotsk took Smolensk in 1232 and killed many of the townspeople who were hostile to him. In the first third of the 13th century, Smolensk merchants continued to participate in international trade. The Latvian State Historical Archive preserved the treaties between Smolensk and Riga and the Goth Coast in 1223/1225 and 1229.

During the Mongol invasion, the eastern regions of the principality suffered, but Smolensk survived, in 1238 it was under the control of the Lithuanian princes. In 1239, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich (Prince of Vladimir) defended the rights of Vsevolod Mstislavich to reign in Smolensk from the Lithuanians.

Loss of independence by the Principality and its gradual disintegration (from 1274 to 1404)

Russian lands in 1389.

In 1274, the Khan of the Golden Horde, Mengu-Timur, sent troops to help Leo of Galicia against Lithuania. The Horde army passed to the west through the principality of Smolensk, with which historians attribute the spread of the power of the Horde to it. In 1275, simultaneously with the second census in North-Eastern Rus', the first census was carried out in the Smolensk principality.

In the second half of the 13th century, the Smolensk princely dynasty, the descendants of Gleb Rostislavich, established itself in Bryansk. However, throughout the whole time there were strong moods “to have their own prince” and to be autonomous from Smolensk. The chronicle even reports that in 1341 the inhabitants of Bryansk killed Prince Gleb, whom they did not like, who had come from Smolensk. in the end, Bryansk was captured by the Lithuanian prince Olgerd in 1356, who took advantage of the city's turmoil.

At the end of the 13th century, Vyazma separated from the principality, and specific tables appeared in Mozhaisk, Fominsky town, Vyazma, Khlepen, Berezuy (Field) and other cities. All of them began as border fortresses, separating Smolensk and Vladimir along with Moscow, later becoming independent cities. In 1303, the Moscow prince Daniil Alexandrovich took possession of Mozhaisk.

Prince Ivan Alexandrovich of Smolensk entered into an alliance with Gediminas and refused to pay tribute to the Golden Horde, which resulted in a joint campaign against Smolensk by Moscow, Ryazan and Horde troops in 1340. 1345 Olgerd moved to liberate Mozhaisk, but failed. In 1351, Simeon Ivanovich Proud moved to Smolensk with the Moscow army; he forced the Smolensk "postponed" from the union with Lithuania. In 1355, Olgerd captured Rzhev, after which all relations between Smolensk and Lithuania were violated. And although in 1370 the Smolensk princes participated in the second campaign of Olgerd against Moscow, after the patriarch addressed them, they declared themselves “handmaids” of Moscow, in 1375 they, together with Dmitry Donskoy, went to Tver and participated in the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380.

Under the Prince of Smolensk Svyatoslav Ivanovich and his successors, despite all efforts to delay the disintegration of the principality, it was increasingly squeezed between Moscow and Lithuania. Some of the Smolensk princes began to move to the service of a strong Moscow prince, for example, Fominsky prince Fyodor Krasny.

In 1386, in the battle on the Vikhra River near Mstislavl, the governor of Jagiello in Lithuania, Skirgailo, defeated the Smolensk regiments and began to imprison princes he liked in Smolensk. In 1395, already being the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Vitovt besieged Smolensk, took it by storm, captured the local prince and planted his governors in the city.

In 1401, the Smolensk princes managed to return the specific table, but not for long - in 1404 Vitovt again occupied Smolensk and finally annexed it to Lithuania. Since that time, the independence of the Smolensk principality was ended forever, and its lands were included in Lithuania.

The further fate of the Smolensk land

In 1508, Smolensk became the center of the Smolensk Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1514, as a result of a successful war with Lithuania for the Moscow principality, Smolensk came under the control of Moscow. However, taking advantage of the turmoil in the Russian Kingdom, the Commonwealth declared war on Russia in 1609 and captured Smolensk in 1611 after an almost two-year siege. According to the Deulino truce between the Commonwealth and the Russian Kingdom, Smolensk was transferred to the Commonwealth. From 1613 to 1654 the Smolensk province was restored. In 1654, after the start of the Russian-Polish war, Smolensk and Smolensk region were finally annexed to Russia, which was confirmed by the Andrusovo truce of 1667 and the Eternal Peace of 1686.

see also

  • List of rulers of the Smolensk Principality
  • List of Russian principalities#Smolensk principality
  • Architecture of pre-Mongolian Smolensk

Notes

  1. 1 2 Vl. Greeks. Smolensk specific princes // Russian Biographical Dictionary: in 25 volumes. - SPb.-M., 1896-1918.
  2. Alekseev L. V. Smolensk land in the IX-XIII centuries. - Moscow: Nauka, 1980. - P. 64-93.
  3. Ivanov A. S. "Moscowitica-Ruthenica" in the Latvian State Historical Archive: the history of the formation of the complex, composition and introduction to scientific circulation. // Ancient Rus'. Questions of medieval studies. - 2004. - No. 3 (17). - S. 54.
  4. Vernadsky G. V. Mongols and Rus'
  5. Rudakov V. E. Smolensk land // encyclopedic Dictionary Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg, 1890-1907.

Literature

  • Makovsky D. P. Smolensk Principality / Smolensk Local Lore Research Institute. - Smolensk, 1948. - 272 p.

Links

  • L. V. Alekseev Smolensk land in the IX-XIII centuries.
  • Aleksandrov S.V. Dynasty of Smolensk Rostislavichs

Smolensk Principality of Bulgaria, Smolensk Principality of Liechtenstein, Smolensk Principality of Monaco, Smolensk Principality of Sealand

Smolensk Principality Information About

12th - early 13th centuries - this is the time of the true flowering of spiritual culture in the Smolensk lands. It was during these years that the principality of Smolensk was ruled by Rostislav Mstislavich (1125-1159), his sons Roman Rostislavich (1159-1180) and David Rostislavich (1180-1197). Rostislav Mstislavich, not long before leaving for the grand throne in Kyiv, transferred Cathedral Hill to the full jurisdiction of the diocese. This place towering above the city, crowned with the majestic Monomakh Cathedral, becomes the center of the political and spiritual life of the Smolensk land. IN cathedral the archives of the principality were kept. Here was the main Smolensk shrine - the icon of Hodegetria. In front of her, the Smolensk people prayed during the years of wars and hard times, they signed contracts and took oaths before her.

The grandson of Vladimir Monomakh, Prince Rostislav Mstislavich, whom his contemporaries called "Pious", did a lot for the development and strengthening of Orthodoxy in our lands. This prince was not usually loved and respected by people for his Christ-loving life, although fate judged him to wage incessant civil wars. According to the presentation, he was highly revered by the people and the Church as the protector of Russian sovereignty. And the people composed songs, legends and lives of such princes, preserving the eternal memory of them for the instruction of posterity.

He took care of the townspeople and peasants of his region, of the spiritual monastic rank, paid much attention to the church life of the Smolensk land. In 1145, the prince erected a stone Borisoglebsky church on Smyadyn, the revenge of the murder of the passion-bearer Gleb Vladimirovich, timed to coincide with its consecration on the 30th anniversary of the transfer of the relics of the holy brother martyrs to Vyshgorod by his grandfather. Prince Rostislav is the founder of an independent dynasty of Smolensk princes Rostislavich. Wishing to strengthen his destiny and emphasize its independence, Rostislav Mstislavich established in 1136 in Smolensk an episcopal chair (before that, the Smolensk land was subject to the Church of the Bishop of Pereyaslavl). The first Bishop of Smolensk was the Greek Manuel, who came from Byzantium to Rus' to teach Russian people church singing.

Prince Rostislav issued a special charter of the Smolensk diocese. The Charter determined the privileges and judicial powers of the bishop, as well as the sources of support for the diocese. Subsequently, Rostislav himself and his successors expanded and supplemented this document. The prince's charter specifically notes that one of the representatives of the secular authorities should not interfere in the episcopal courts. The statutory charter ends with a call by Rostislav Mstislavich to his descendants and successors - not to change the main provisions of the charter, not to try to abolish the Smolensk diocese or unite it again with Pereyaslavl. At present, the letters of the Smolensk princes, given by the diocese, are an important source on the history of the Smolensk region in the Middle Ages.

The chronicler concludes his story about Prince Rostislav with the following characteristic: “This prince was of medium height, his face was wide and his beard was round and wide. The saint diligently devoted himself to the Church, and when he finished singing, he honored the rank of saint and gave many alms to priests, widows, and orphans.

In the 16th century, when compiling the “Book of Powers”, it was included on the basis of chronicle articles and the story “about the Grand Duke Rostislav” in this story a lot is said about the prince’s love for the Church and church people, about lengthy soulful conversations with hegumen Polycarp, who instructed Rostislav-Michael “to love the truth and do everything in truth, and all the people entrusted by God to judge righteously and never violate the peaceful covenant, and the Russian land that he got according to his father’s will, with all his might from to defend and protect her enemies piously." These covenants were carried out by the faithful prince, which became the reason for the veneration by people and the Church of the Grand Duke Rostislav, in holy baptism Michael, nicknamed the Pious.

Roman Rostislavovich stayed in people's memory God-fearing and pious person. When Roman Rostislavovich died, it turned out that there was nothing to bury him with. The prince spent his savings on alms to the church and the poor. He did not spare funds for the construction of churches and the creation of parish schools. The school was also organized at the palace church of the prince. She was fully supported by the personal funds of Prince Roman. The children of the boyars and the clergy studied at the school. The prince personally invited Greek and Latin teachers for this school, since he did not want to have uneducated clergy in his principality. Latin at that time was the international language of communication in Western Europe. Grateful Smolyans themselves raised money for a worthy burial of their ruler.

The new prince of Smolensk, brother of Roman Rostislavich, David (1180-1197) also did a lot for the development of the spiritual culture of medieval Smolensk. At the end of the 12th-beginning of the 13th centuries, stone temple construction unfolded in our lands, unprecedented in scope, associated with the formation of an independent architectural school and its own original tradition of decorating churches.

The temple is the house of God, the house of prayer. The first Christian temple was the same Zion chamber in which the Lord performed Last Supper with His disciples before His crucifixion. The temple is truly the ark of salvation for believers. Each temple is dedicated to God, bearing a name in memory of one or another sacred event or saint of God. The first temples that came from Byzantium had the shape cross - symbol salvation, the circle is a symbol of eternity. Among the temples there is a great architectural diversity. In the middle of the 12th century, an architectural ensemble was formed in Smolensk on Cathedral Hill, consisting of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Episcopal Palace Church and several residential, office and outbuildings. The palace church of Prince Rostislav was built 40-45 meters south of the cathedral.

In 1145, Prince Rostislav founded a stone cathedral in the Borisoglebsky Monastery, which was located on Smyadyn near the place of the murder of St. Gleb. It was a majestic one-domed six-pillar temple. In 1191, Prince David added a wide gallery-tomb to the cathedral from three sides, and the temple received a tiered composition. The cathedral became even more representative.

Under Prince Rostislav in the 50s, two more churches were built outside the city walls: on the eastern side in Perekopny Lane and on the right bank of the Dnieper, the Church of Peter and Paul, which has survived to this day.

In the 1140s, on the right bank of the Dnieper, a princely court appeared with the church of Peter and Paul. Its founder is the noble prince Rostislav Mstislavich the Pious. The temple was built on a sparsely populated place on the right deserted low bank of the Dnieper, called "Teterevnik", where there was a suburban princely residence, his squad, hunters and servants lived. Near the eastern part of the temple, until the 60s of the 20th century, the river Gorodnya, or Gorodyanka, flowed.

Somewhat later, in the 1160-70s, already in the central region of the city, under Prince Roman Rostislavich, a new princely court was built with the Church of St. John the Evangelist. It stands on the left bank of the Dnieper, almost opposite the Peter and Paul Church, and initially was very similar to it, only more slender.

The first Russian churches in Smolensk were built by South Russian craftsmen from Kyiv or Chernigov. Only one tower-shaped temple has survived to this day in Smolensk. This is the Church of Michael the Archangel, which is also called Svirskaya.

The skill of Smolensk architects was known far beyond the borders of Smolensk land. They were invited to build churches in Kyiv, Ryazan, Pskov, Veliky Novgorod. Perhaps there were stone temples in other cities of the Smolensk region, in Roslavl, in particular, a plinth was found.

Construction in Smolensk was interrupted after the epidemic of 1230-1232, and then strife, enemy attacks began, the economic power of the city melted.

A significant phenomenon in ancient Russian art of the 12th-13th centuries. is Smolensk monumental painting. Until our time, only small fragments of painting on fresh, damp plaster that adorned the walls of the temples of medieval Smolensk have survived.

Smolensk has its own icon-painting school.

The Monastery of the Deposition of the Robe, where Reverend Abraham was hegumen, became the center of culture of ancient Smolensk. It was admitted "after the great test of the books" - a unique phenomenon. There was a large library here, perhaps a chronicle was kept, a student worked here Reverend Abraham Ephraim, author of the "Life" of his teacher. It is known that Avraamy Smolensky painted 2 icons on complex subjects, and, having become abbot, he richly decorated the temple with icons. Perhaps there was an icon-painting workshop in his monastery.

We will talk about two icons Smolensk Mother of God Hodegetria and the Miraculous Icon of Our Lady of Smolensk Hodegetria in Nadvartnaya Church. The first of these icons, according to historians, was considered one of the oldest images of the Mother of God. Unfortunately, this icon has been lost. By the time the cathedral was reopened in 1943, the icon was no longer there. Her whereabouts are still unknown. Priceless for believers, it could seem to someone a source of profit. However, among the elderly believers who saw the war still remember it, there is a conviction that the icon was hidden and thus saved from desecration. The second icon was originally installed in the church above the Dnieper gates of the fortress wall. Now this icon, a witness of our Borodino glory, is located in the Assumption Smolensk Cathedral and is revered as its main shrine.

During the epidemic of 1230-1232, the Smolensk prince Mstislav Davydovich died. The middle of the 13th century became for the Smolensk region, as for the entire Russian land, a time of severe trials. In 1238, leaving from under Torshka, Batu's troops ravaged the eastern Smolensk lands. After the capture of Kyiv in 1240, one of the detachments of the Mongol-Tatars went to Smolensk.

Saint Mercury is a courageous “warrior from his youth”, a valiant defender of the glorious city from pagan invasion, a martyr, rested by the Lord in the Kingdom of Heaven, and at the same time one of the most mysterious of his origin, life and death of holy men in Smolensk history.

It is possible that he was originally from Riga. How long and to what prince the warrior Mercury served in Smolensk, we do not know. One can only assume that he accomplished the feat at a fairly young, although not young age, as evidenced by various descriptions of the saint in the Originals.

The time when the warrior Mercury lived in Smolensk was difficult for the Russian land. The invasion of Batu’s army swept over its borders in a terrible wave: “In the cities and villages there was a great captivity from these evil barbarians, an evil misfortune, the destruction and desolation of the churches of the saints, so that wild animals bred in them, and there were no people, and the holy monasteries were were plundered ruthlessly, the cities and towns were desolated, the priests and all high-ranking people were placed heavy chains on their necks and evil wounds on the ridges, and violent death, and the holy monks and nuns were flogged without pity, and the pagan yoke was placed on the neck of all Orthodox people . Then the earth itself wept like a child-loving mother, seeing that misfortune in countries within Christian borders, for then the evil barbarians filled the Russian land with fire and smoke with their evil and sinful law: for not only did they do this, but they also torn babies from their mother’s breasts. and smashed to the ground, while others were pierced with weapons and defiled the girlhood of young virgins and married wives, separating them from their husbands and defiling the holy brides of Christ, nuns, with fornication. Many of the Orthodox then killed themselves and accepted death, so as not to be defiled by the pagans. And then there was a great captivity of the Orthodox, and the inhuman warriors were merciless towards them, tied them by the hair and drove them like cattle ....... "

And so, after the conquest of Kyiv, the troops of the Mongol-Tatars approached Smolensk. At this time, all the inhabitants prayed together to the Church of the Mother of God, so that the Lady would deliver the city faithful to her from the invasion. At the same time, to a certain sexton, there was knowledge from miraculous icon Mother of God, through which this blessed man was told: “Man of God! Soon go to that Cross where my saint Mercury prays and say to him: Calls you Mother of God! The Mother of God named the sexton the exact place where to look for Her saint. Indeed, at the specified courtyard, the sexton saw Mercury in full armor, for "it was already revealed to him from above about the victory sent even before the sexton's arrival." Having learned from the envoy that the time of his feat had struck, Mercury returned with him to the Church of the Mother of God or, according to another list of his life, to the Caves Monastery.

At night, Mercury approached the camp of the enemy and killed the Giant, but led others into great confusion. After that, the Tatars "could not and did not dare even in their thoughts to approach the city." There are two versions of how Mercury died. One of them says that when he fell asleep, the son of the leader of the Tatar army came and cut off his head. But a miracle happened, Mercury rose on the battlefield, took his head in his hands and came to Smolensk to the city gates. The Smolensk people were amazed by this phenomenon. Mercury was buried with great honors.

In honor of the feat of Mercury, the Smolensk people once erected a stone pillar at the Molokhovsky Gate, which was lost back in the 18th century. Such a state of affairs could not but affect the church. The diocese is poor. The number of arrivals is reduced. Decrease in the number of the clergy. During this period, stone temple construction in Smolensk land actually stops. But even in these difficult conditions, the Smolensk region has retained its high spiritual potential. Evidence of this was the appearance of new holy ascetics of the Russian Church, immigrants from our land. Here we should mention the noble prince Theodore of Smolensk and Yaroslavl, enlightener of the lands of the Golden Horde. The fate of Prince of Smolensk and Yaroslavl Theodore was similar life path his ancestor, the Grand Duke Rostislav Mstislavich the Pious: like this Grand Duke, the faithful Theodore underwent exile and bitterness, military and personal hardships, endured by him humbly, without despair.

The Monk Simon became another great saint of Smolyanin. He was one of the oldest Smolensk archimandrites when he heard about the exploits of the Monk Sergei of Radonezh and about his main monastery. Saint Simon became one of the closest associates and helpers of Saint Sergius.

Simon was involved in the manifestation of the grace of the Holy Trinity to Sergius, was awarded the contemplation of a miracle described by the author of the life of the Radonezh saint.

Simon himself was not canonized; as far as is known, an ageographic narrative and service to it were not compiled. The life and work of this blessed man are, unfortunately, concealed.

The 14th century did not leave us a single monumental building about uninterrupted traditions Orthodox culture which had their roots in the brilliant culture of Smolensk in the 12th and early 13th centuries, only a few surviving written monuments speak. In the first half of the 14th century, the Gospel was written in Smolensk, named after the place of the find Arshansky and stored in Kyiv.

Widely known among Russian scribes was a literary work created in Smolensk - "The Journeys of Archimandrite Agrifenius to the Holy Land."

Another Smolyan, Ignatius, in 1389 accompanied Metropolitan Pimen on a long journey and left "records of going to Tsar Grad."

The pearl of Russian book art calls a wonderful monument of Smolensk writing, made in 1395, this is the Psalter of the Onega Cross Monastery.

In the late 14th and early 15th centuries, Smolensk came under the rule of Lithuania. In the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the majority of the population was Orthodox, but the ruling elite, led by the grand duchy family, leaned toward Catholicism. Therefore, the position of the Orthodox Church in the Lithuanian state was not simple. In 1395, Lithuanian troops took Smolensk for the first time. At the entrance to the city of Grand Duke Vytautas, a Catholic cross was carried in front of him and hymns were sung in Latin. Vitovt himself was tolerant of Orthodoxy.

In 1400-1459, the Russian Orthodox Church was finally divided into two metropolises - Moscow and Kyiv. The dioceses that are part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, including Smolensk, are now subordinate not to the Moscow Metropolitan, but to the Metropolitan of Kyiv.

In the 15th century, Lithuanian rulers periodically made attempts to subordinate the Orthodox Church to the Pope and the Vatican. However, thanks to the steadfastness in the Faith of the common people and the active opposition of the Orthodox Hierarchy, all such attempts ended in failure.

Evidence of the complexity of relations between the Orthodox Church and the authorities of Lithuania is the tragic fate of Bishop Gerasim of Smolensk. In 1433 he was elected Metropolitan of Kyiv, but continued to live in Smolensk. In 1435, by order of the Grand Duke Svidrigailo, who suspected the bishop of secret ties with his enemies, he was arrested, taken to Vitebsk and burned there.

The turn of the 15th-16th centuries was a time of very severe trials for the Orthodox population of the Principality of Lithuania. During this period, especially active attempts were made to introduce Catholicism in the Smolensk lands. In 1500, the Bishop of Vilna even asked the Pope for a special charter allowing the Catholic clergy to execute heretics and pagans by death. There were cases when Catholic priests forcibly baptized children from Orthodox families into your faith. All this caused active resistance from the side. Orthodox Church and the local population. In many respects, the similar policy of the Vatican and the Grand Duke's power in Lithuania contributed to the strengthening of the Smolensk people's desire to pass under the authority of the Grand Duke of Moscow.

The church remained the custodian of the best cultural traditions of our region. This is evidenced by the Annals of Abraham, a huge chronicle collection compiled at the court of the Smolensk bishops by the monk Abraham. As can be concluded from the text of this chronicle, its author was thoroughly familiar with Holy Scripture and the works of such theologians as Saint Avanasius, Cyril the Philosopher and others. This allows us to talk about the preservation of the theological school in Smolensk and in the Lithuanian period.

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Art of the Smolensk Principality

Smolensk land had its own long history, which determined both the boundaries of the principality, and its early isolation, and the range of its cultural and economic ties. Here, where the upper reaches of the Dnieper and the Western Dvina converge, lay the most important portages that connected the Dnieper with the Volga and the rivers of the Ilmen basin: Smolensk land was a node of the great path "from the Varangians to the Greeks." Smolensk was already known to the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus as an important city center. At that time, Smolensk, as is assumed, lay not in the present place, but in the area of ​​​​fortifications associated with a huge necropolis - the Gnezdovsky burial ground. Apparently, only at the end of the 11th century Smolensk was moved to the high hills of the Dnieper bank, where Vladimir Monomakh in 1101 erected the first stone church - the city's Assumption Cathedral. It was a large brick temple, probably built in imitation of the cathedral of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery, to which other city cathedrals of the 12th century also ascended. In the 40s of the XII century, the Smolensk principality acquired independence, and Kyiv and Novgorod felt the power of the Smolensk princes. A major trade and craft center located on both banks of the Dnieper, Smolensk was in many ways similar in its topography to Novgorod. On one side of the river, on a high hill, there was a citadel with the city's Monomakh Cathedral; on the opposite low-lying bank, well protected by swamps and rivers, lay the commercial and craft district of the city. The urban population also settled at the foot of the citadel (as in Kyiv, this section of the city was called Podil); here, in the left bank part, the vast majority of stone buildings of the 12th-13th centuries were located. Sources also mention the ends and hundreds into which the city territory was divided (the Pyatnitsky and Kryloshovsky ends are known, and in the low-lying part of the river - "Petrovsky hundred"). Veche was no less effective force in Smolensk than in Novgorod; it limited the power of the prince, decisively intervened in political and ecclesiastical affairs, confirmed or expelled princes, and participated in the replacement of higher church positions. Even the affairs of the Church were repeatedly attacked by the townspeople, so that Bishop Lazar of Smolensk had to leave the cathedra. Smolensk Prince David Rostislavich "accepted many annoyances from the Smolensk people"; in 1186 it came to an uprising, "and many heads fell of the best husbands ...". Apparently, in connection with this, the prince's residence turned out to be taken out of the citadel to the outskirts of the city, across the Churilka River, just as in Novgorod the prince was forced to leave the citadel and settle in Gorodishe. All this was associated with the rapid growth of urban culture, the development of literacy and social thought. The well-known Smolensk preacher Abraham, who lived at the turn of the 12th-13th centuries, attracted the lower classes of the city with his freethinking and was persecuted by the prince and the bishop.

Along with various crafts, stone construction also flourished in Smolensk in the 12th century. Its surviving monuments are only a small fraction of what was created by Smolensk architects; many buildings (there are up to twenty of them) still lie in the ground and await archaeological research.

From the 40s of the 12th century, the great construction of the Smolensk princes began, who, according to the chronicler, had “an insatiable love for buildings” and, building up their residence, wanted to make it “a second Vyshgorod”. This expressed not only the commitment of the Smolensk princes to the Kievan artistic tradition, but also the desire to raise the significance of their capital by its connection with the cult of the first Russian saints Boris and Gleb. Smolensk was the site of the death of one of the brothers - Gleb, and Smyadyn, a tract on the banks of the Smyadyn River, became the site of the princely residence and the newly built Borisoglebsky princely monastery.

Smyadyn also had a certain economic significance: it was the “Trade side” of Smolensk; here was the center of foreign and domestic trade of the principality; next door was the settlement of German merchants, in which their church of the Virgin Mary stood.

Temples preserved in ruins Borisoglebsky Monastery built in the 40s
XII century according to two canonical types of cross-domed building. The small church (Basil?) was a small church with four pillars; the semi-columns of the middle pair of blades highlighted the central articulation of the facade, which, judging by the old drawings, had a three-bladed completion; this form, used by the Polotsk architect John for processing the pedestal under the drum, was transferred here to the facade of the building itself.

In 1145-1146, a large six-pillar monastery cathedral was built - the "great church" of Boris and Gleb. In the western part of the cathedral there were choir stalls with stairs, probably inside the western wall. The facades were divided by flat blades with semi-columns, and the semicircles of the apses were animated by thin rods. Built in the 80s of the XII century on three sides with galleries intended for the tomb of the Smolensk princes, the Borisoglebsky Cathedral acquired the appearance of a five-nave church. It had elegant majolica floors and was decorated with frescoes.

Two other churches of the XII century - Peter and Paul of the middle of the XII century. and the Church of St. John the Theologian, built by Prince Roman Rostislavich in 1173, are variants of the type of a small church on Smyadyn.

The Church of Peter and Paul is the oldest surviving stone building in Smolensk, dating back to the 40s-50s of the 12th century. To the west of the temple stood the prince's palace, connected to it by a wooden passage. The Church of Peter and Paul is an excellent example of a cross-domed one-domed four-pillar building. Its facades are divided by shoulder blades, semi-circular openings are framed by a strict two-stage niche, the temple has perspective portals and facade arcades, on the intermediate pilasters there are powerful semi-columns and a dodecahedral head drum. On the wide planes of the corner blades of the western facade there is a runner ribbon and relief crosses are laid out from the plinth. The façades of the church were plastered with a pinkish-white mortar, leaving exposed brick decoration details. The interior of the Peter and Paul Church was luxurious, its walls were covered with frescoes, the floors were covered with glazed ceramic tiles.

The Church of John the Evangelist was located at the entrance to the princely residence - Smyadyn. The temple has many features in common with the Church of Peter and Paul, it is interesting to use facades made of bricks, crosses and the construction of external aisles-tombs at the eastern corners of the church.

The princes made rich contributions to these temples. So, about the Theological Church, the chronicle says: Prince Roman “created the stone church of St. John and decorated it with all kinds of church buildings, and decorated with icons of gold and enamel, creating a memory for his family, also asking for forgiveness of sins for his soul.”

The most outstanding work of Smolensk architects is the one they built in
1191-1194 in the residence of Prince David, the court princely church of Michael the Archangel (the so-called Svirskaya), to a certain extent echoing the traditions of the Polotsk architect John. The central part of the four-pillar temple is significantly elongated upward, like a powerful tower; its dynamics is emphasized by the three-blade completion of the facades and the use of complex beam pilasters, with their verticals going up. On three sides, the temple is adjoined by high narthexes open inward, forming, together with the central apse protruding significantly forward, as if buttresses, reinforcing the tension of the architectural image. The peculiarity of the temple is its rectangular side apses. The plan of the church and the composition of its volumes are distinguished by a clearly expressed centricity. The system of completion of the temple brings it closer to the advanced national trend in the architecture of the XII century - the Spassky Cathedral in Polotsk and the Friday Church in Chernigov. The niches of the facades were decorated with murals, some of the exterior murals of the Svir Church were preserved, inside the temple there was also a wall painting, which was preserved in fragments. Michael the Archangel Church is one of the true masterpieces of ancient Russian art. The Galician-Volyn chronicle, attentive to outstanding architectural monuments, writes in an obituary about the builder of the temple, David Rostislavich: the prince “went all the days to the church of the holy Archangel Michael of God, he himself created it in his reign, there is no such thing in a midnight country, and that’s all those who came to her marveled at her fair beauty, with icons, gold and silver, and pearls, and precious stones adorned, and filled with all grace.

For the large-scale construction of Smolensk merchants and princes, special corporations of brick-makers worked, the signs and stamps of which are often found on the bricks of Smolensk buildings. The brickwork was hidden under whitewashing or plastering, which imparted to the facades a smoothness and solidity, reminiscent to a certain extent of the monuments of Novgorod. The overall appearance of the temple was also simple and monumental. Half-columns of blades, deep shadow spots of portals enhanced the power and plasticity of the facade, modestly decorated with a strict arcade belt or crosses made of brick.

Western European trade relations of Smolensk merchants and a large influx of foreigners, for whom Smolensk craftsmen built temples in the city, help to explain the presence of Romanesque details in the Smolensk monuments, such as the arcade belts noted above, beam pilasters, vanes with semi-columns, perspective portals, which are also traced in the ruins of a number of temples of the XII century, for example, an unnamed church, discovered by excavations on the Resurrection Hill. The use of Romanesque details enriched the artistic experience of Smolensk architects. The culmination of their work was the Church of Michael the Archangel, which had no equal in "fair beauty" in the entire Russian North - "in the midnight country." Recalling here what was said above about the amazing boldness and novelty of the composition of the Pyatnitsa church in Chernigov, associated with the order of the prince of the Smolensk dynasty Rurik Rostislavich and his architect Peter Miloneg, one can appreciate the contribution of Smolensk architectural art to the treasury of Russian architecture. Apparently, this explains both the wide popularity of Smolensk architects and the influence of their techniques on the architecture of adjacent areas.

All the ancient temples of Smolensk were painted, unfortunately, very little remains of Smolensk monumental painting. In the churches of Peter and Paul and John the Theologian, ornamental paintings in the slopes of the windows have been preserved, in the Peter and Paul Church in the chamber in the choirs back in
30-40s 20th century there was a large composition "Fleece of Gedeonovo", which is now almost lost and known from reproductions. Small fragments of a painting from the end of the 12th century. the churches of Michael the Archangel have also been preserved, some of them were recently uncovered during the dismantling of late bookmarks in niches and arches. An invaluable discovery for the study of pre-Mongolian monumental painting was the discovery of fragments of its painting during archaeological excavations of a large monastery cathedral on the Channel. During work in 1962-1963. a temple was excavated, the walls of which were preserved in places to a height of up to three meters, but the murals were preserved mainly in the lower parts of the walls, these are decorative murals - polylithia and towels, as well as a few facial images located above the decorative panels - the figures of three martyrs in white robes and St. Paraskeva, the image of St. Nicholas on the altar, the lower part of the painting of the central apse. In addition, there are parts of faces collected from fragments. The restoration laboratory of the State Hermitage Museum carried out the work of removing these paintings from the walls and mounting them on a new base; now they are stored in the Hermitage Museum and in the Smolensk Museum. The murals of the temple on the Protok date back to the end of the 12th - beginning of the 13th centuries, they are distinguished by freedom and picturesqueness, modeling with the help of white lines and highlights is little used in the faces, as in the Novgorod wall painting of this time, they are distinguished by a calmer light and shade molding. Stylistically, they are closer to Kyiv monuments. The Smolensk murals are very interesting from a technological point of view: only preparation was made in the technique of fresco painting, refinement on already dry plaster with paints on a binder plays a much greater role in painting images than in the monumental painting of Kiev, Novgorod or northeastern Rus'.

Given the fragmentation of the remains of monumental painting and the absence of icons associated with the Polotsk-Smolensk region of the period under consideration, the surviving miniatures deserve special attention.

The Khutynsky Service Book (now in the State Historical Museum), dating back to the 13th century, belongs to the Polotsk-Smolensk culture. The miniatures of this manuscript are of considerable interest. Images of John Chrysostom and Basil the Great, distinguished by exact proportions and good drawing, are given on a golden background; they seem to be floating in the air, thanks to the abstractness of the background. Ornamentation of the frames largely echoes the motifs of folk art. The Gospel of the 13th century, kept in the Library of Moscow State University, belongs to the same artistic tradition. The poorly preserved image of the Evangelist John is similar in style to the miniatures of the Khutyn Missal.

Summing up the observations of the architectural monuments of the XI-XIII centuries in the Galicia-Volyn land, Polotsk and Smolensk principalities, we can draw the following conclusions.

Architecture initial stage period of feudal fragmentation enters a period of rapid growth. This heyday is largely due to the traditions and achievements of the art of Kievan Rus X-XI centuries. But traditions are perceived not mechanically, but deeply creatively: the architecture of the XII-XIII centuries develops new themes and fills the architectural image with new content. With the inevitable consistency and regularity, a new architectural style is born, fully in line with its time. Kyiv initially leads the artistic development, supplying the first samples of new buildings, and then gives way to the architecture of other areas, which, based on a common source, create local versions of the style. Now architectural creativity is entirely concentrated in the hands of Russian masters. The latter improve their art by studying the ancient and new monuments of the Dnieper region and carefully looking at the work of their Russian and Western European counterparts. The dominant type of religious building remains the cross-domed church. However, Russian architects do not leave this foundation of the Byzantine heritage inviolable: they subject it to radical processing, in every way emphasizing the pyramidal, tower-like composition of the temple. These bold architectural searches captivate the architects of many regional schools and enhance the common features in their art. In the Church of Pyatnitsa in Chernigov and in the Church of Michael the Archangel in Smolensk, the sharpest and most daring solution to this problem is given, as if anticipating the later searches of Moscow architects of the XIV-XV centuries.


Commemorative tablets on the fortress wall

Smolensk is one of the most ancient cities in Russia. The first dated mention of it is found in the Ustyug (Arkhangelsk) annals under 862-865. Having arisen on the ancient trade route "from the Varangians to the Greeks", Smolensk was the center of the Slavic tribe of the Krivichi, a major point of trade and handicraft production, and a military fortress. Since 882 - as part of the Kyiv state. In the XII century. Smolensk is the administrative and cultural center of the Smolensk Principality; Smolensk conducted extensive trade with Riga and other Baltic cities, which was regulated by an agreement of 1229. In 1404-1514 it was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Together with the Polish and Lithuanian troops, the Smolensk regiments participated in the Battle of Grunwald in 1410. In 1596-1602, Smolensk was surrounded by a stone fortress wall, which was built under the guidance of the architect Fyodor Kon (born near Smolensk, in Dorogobuzh); this Smolensk fortress was called "the stone necklace of the Russian land." After the defense of Smolensk in 1609-11, the city was captured by Polish troops; in 1654 it was taken by Russian troops, returned to Russia under the Andrusovo truce of 1667. Since 1708 it was a provincial city, in 1719-26 it was the center of the Smolensk province of the Riga province, in 1776-96 it was the center of the Smolensk governorship.

During the Patriotic War of 1812, the armies of M.B. Barclay de Tolly and P.I. Bagration; 4-6 (August 16-18) the Battle of Smolensk took place. As a result of fierce battles, the Russian command withdrew its troops from Smolensk to the Old Smolensk Road, frustrating Napoleon's plan to impose a general battle and defeat the Russian armies in unfavorable conditions for them. On November 4 (16), 1812, Smolensk, which had suffered greatly from the Napoleonic invasion, was liberated.

In the second half of the XIX century. the Riga-Oryol (1868), Moscow-Brest (1870), Ryazan-Ural (1899) railways passed through Smolensk, which contributed to the economic development of the city; soon Smolensk became a hub of five railway lines. By the beginning of the XX century. in Smolensk, a bureaucratic-philistine city, there were about 20 small enterprises (breweries, oil mills, brick, ceramic factories, twine and reel factories) with a total number of workers of about 2 thousand people. Since 1929 - the center of the Western region, since 1937 - the Smolensk region.

During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45, Smolensk was occupied by Nazi troops from July 16 (Zadneprovskaya part - from July 29), 1941 to September 25, 1943. In the area of ​​the city in 1941, the Battle of Smolensk took place, which delayed the advance of the Nazi troops on Moscow for 2 months, which became one of the serious reasons for the collapse of Hitler's blitzkrieg plan. During the occupation, Smolensk suffered enormous damage: all industrial enterprises, the railway junction were destroyed, 93% of the housing stock and many cultural, historical and architectural monuments. By 1955, the economy and industry of Smolensk were practically re-created (Smolensk in 1945 was among the 15 cities of Russia subject to priority restoration).

In general, during its history, the ancient city experienced several grandiose projects in the field of construction. Their successful implementation entailed not only the flourishing of architecture, but also testified to the role of the entire region in the life of the country.

For the first time, mass stone construction in Smolensk was carried out at the turn of the 12th-13th centuries. Archaeologists found the remains of 31 buildings in the city, three have survived to this day - the churches of Peter and Paul, John the Theologian and Michael the Archangel. For comparison, the total number of monuments of this period in all cities of North-Eastern Rus' does not exceed thirty. A natural sign of the flourishing of architecture - the Smolensk princes at that time largely determined the policy in Ancient Rus', controlled power in Novgorod and several times became the great princes of Kyiv.

The next grandiose project is associated with the construction of the Smolensk fortress wall at the turn of the 15th-17th centuries. Tsar Boris Godunov was present at its laying, and the forces and resources of the entire country were mobilized to implement the project. “From all Russian lands” masons and brick masters arrived in Smolensk, building materials were brought from distant cities, other stone construction was prohibited everywhere by the royal decree. The result - in just seven years, a fortress was built with a length of about six kilometers with 38 towers.

As for the inhabitants, for many centuries they lived in wooden houses. The use of wood as the main building material led to the fact that the city repeatedly burned out almost completely. This happened in 1194, 1308, 1340 and 1415. During the Patriotic War of 1812, the fire destroyed more than one and a half thousand philistine houses and about 300 shops. “The city is all through; houses without a roof, without windows, without doors. The emptiness frightens, the wind whistles among the burnt walls; at night it seems that the ruins are howling,” a contemporary described Smolensk shortly after the enemy left.

Shortly before the war with Napoleon, the first master plans for the development of the provincial center and several county towns were adopted. The general plan of Smolensk in 1778 provided for a regular layout of the streets. The landscape of the city did not make it possible to straighten the historically formed confusion of crooked streets and alleys, so a clarifying plan was soon adopted - so that “by regulating the streets, new squares and a new state and public building, the current stone and good building should not be subjected to breaking.” At the end of the 18th century, the administrative center of Smolensk, an area called "Blonie", was reconstructed. Private houses from here were transferred to the Soldiers' Settlement, Blonye itself was turned into a square for training troops, and 16 two-story stone and several wooden administrative and public buildings were built around the perimeter in the classical style. At the same time, the first attempt was made to streamline private construction. The provincial government obliged Smolensk residents to build houses of the same height according to three approved facade models.

After the war of 1812, the capital's "architect's assistant" Korneev was sent to Smolensk. The data he received on the ruin of the provincial center served as the basis for a new master plan, developed by the architect Geste and approved in 1817. Geste abandoned the former ray scheme of the city's development, retaining in his project the historically established network of streets with their slight straightening inside the fortress. In the 19th century, Smolensk experienced two building "fever". The first, which occurred in the 1830s, was associated with the name of the Smolensk governor Khmelnitsky. Then the provincial center "took a decent look and was decorated with bridges, stone buildings and bridges." For the second time, the city began to be actively built up in the pre-revolutionary decades. The rich stone buildings of that time in the Art Nouveau and Eclectic styles have partially survived to this day.

The appearance of Smolensk has changed significantly in the early years Soviet power. Then on the outskirts, near the emerging enterprises, the first multi-storey residential buildings began to be built. An attempt was made to create a new type of residential building, implemented in the Communal House on Voznesenskaya Gora - the first high-rise building in the city. Its layout is also interesting: the center of communal life on each floor was a staircase - the doors of all rooms went straight to it.

Another mass construction began after the Great Patriotic War. In the liberated Smolensk, people lived in basements, attics, dugouts, niches of the fortress wall. But already a month after the expulsion of the invaders, 11 thousand Smolensk residents (out of almost 20 thousand) had apartments. The city was restored by the method of folk construction - the inhabitants went out on subbotniks, during which they cleared the rubble, sorted bricks, and collected nails and roofing iron from the ashes. By the way, many objects were built in this way even after the restoration of Smolensk. Thus, for example, in the 1950s, the Spartak stadium was built, and subsequently many residential buildings in residential areas.

In the post-war years, the slogan "each Soviet family - a separate apartment" appeared. The deadlines for the implementation of this slogan were constantly pushed back, but much was done. The first large residential area of ​​typical five-story buildings was built in the 1960s on the southeastern outskirts of Smolensk - Popovka. In the "stagnant" time, more than 200 thousand square meters of housing were commissioned here annually. Schools, kindergartens, libraries were built on Popovka, the park of the 1100th anniversary of Smolensk was founded. In the early 1970s, on an area of ​​about 40 hectares, construction began on a new residential area on the northwestern outskirts of Smolensk. The first typical five-story building in Sitniki was commissioned in 1972. A large construction at that time unfolded in Kiselevka.

In modern Smolensk: theaters: drama, puppets. Philharmonic. Planetarium. Smolensk United Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve. Sculpture Museum. S.T. Konenkov. Art Gallery (building 1904-05, project by S.V. Malyutin; collection of ancient Russian icons of the XIV-XVI centuries, Russian and Western European art). Museum of the Great Patriotic War 1941-45. Museum of Smolensk flax.

The Dnieper divides Smolensk into northern and southern parts. The central part with the old buildings is located on the hills, separated by long deep ravines, behind it are modern blocks of residential buildings. The current layout has been early XIX V. according to the plan approved in 1818, which combined the rectangular layout of the center with a system of radial streets descending to the Dnieper in the ancient part of the city. According to the master plan proposed in 1926 by A.V. Shchusev and developed in the 1930s. N.G. Kondratenko, residential complexes were built. According to the post-war plan for the restoration and development of Smolensk. (1944-46, architect G.P. Golts and others) the historical center was preserved, a radical reconstruction of highways was carried out. Architectural monuments of the 12th century: 4-pillar, single-domed, 3-apse churches of Peter and Paul on Gorodyanka (1146 or the end of the 12th century, restored in 1962-67, next to it are the chambers of the Uniate bishop, 1632) and John the Theologian on Varyazhki, on the opposite bank of the Dnieper (1173-76, heavily rebuilt); on the western outskirts of Smolensk, on a high hill above the Dnieper, is the Church of Michael the Archangel (Svirskaya; 1191-94), one-domed, one-apse, height inside - 35 m. the largest Russian defensive structures (length about 6.5 km, height about 10-12 m, thickness about 5 m), completed with stone battlements (height about 3 m), had 38 towers (partially preserved). The Baroque 5-domed Assumption Cathedral rises on Cathedral Hill (1677-79, architect A. Korolkov, rebuilt in 1732-40 by A.I. Shedel; in the interior - a luxurious wooden carved iconostasis, 1730-40, artist S.M. Trusitsky and others, an embroidered veil with the "Lamentation of Christ" of the 16th century) with a bell tower (1767-72), a white-stone cathedral staircase (1766-67, rebuilt in 1784 by M.N. Slepnev) and a fence ( 1767); the Cathedral Hill ensemble also includes the former consistory building (now the regional archive; 1790, classicism) and the gate Cathedral of the Epiphany(1784, architect Slepnev). In front of the Cathedral Hill in 1954, a monument to M.I. Kutuzov (sculptor G.I. Motovilov). Up the street to the city center - the ensemble of the Trinity Monastery with a cathedral (1738-40, architect I. Kalinik) and a bell tower (1770s), the Church of the Ascension (1694-98, architect G. Vakhromeev, according to the drawings of Peter I ; northern aisle - 1764, architect M.F. Kazakov), Baroque Transfiguration Cathedral of the Abraham Monastery (1755). The NizhneNikolskaya Church (1748) and the Church of the Savior (1766) have not been lost. "Metropolitan's chambers" (XVIII century, early baroque). Built in the style of classicism former house governor, St. George's Church (both - 1781), Nobility Assembly (1825, architect A.I. Melnikov). In the city square there is a monument to M.I. Glinka (1885, sculptor A.R. Bock, openwork lattice with musical signs based on the works of Glinka, according to the project of I.S. Bogomolov). Monuments of the Patriotic War of 1812: "To the heroic defenders of Smolensk from the French hordes on August 4-5, 1812" (cast iron, total height about 46 m, 1842, sculptor A. Adamini), "To the Heroes of 1812" (1912, sculptor S.R. Nadolsky, architect N.S. Shutsman), monuments to V.I. Lenin (1967), M.O. Mikeshin (1990), Fedor Kon (1991).



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