Ipatiev Chronicle - a unique monument of ancient Russian literature

Most of the information about the history of Ancient Rus is drawn from the annals. This genre of Old Russian literature has been and still remains the main source of historical data for modern science, along with archaeological research. Of particular interest to researchers is the Ipatiev Chronicle. Why? We'll figure it out together.

Chronicle

The very name "chronicle" speaks for itself - the writing of events by years, years. The authors were most often monks of monasteries, who briefly stated the essence of the main events that had taken place. In the period of feudal fragmentation, each princely house compiled its own arch, which also gave a certain interpretation of what was happening, based on the interests of the ruling dynasty. The first chroniclers in Russia appeared in the eleventh century. The oldest work that has survived in this genre is the "Chronicle of Bygone Years," written around 1113 by the monk of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Nestor.

Historians have found dozens of similar sets of events. The most famous and ancient of them are the Laurentian Chronicle and the Ipatiev Chronicle. A vault is a work that included a census of earlier sources, which were supplemented by recent events. Thus, the "Chronicle of Bygone Years" is included in most of the arches of the late period as the beginning of the narrative.

The discovery of Karamzin

In the 19th century, the Russian historian N. Karamzin found a chronicle in the archives of the Ipatiev Monastery near Kostroma. It was dated to the 14th century. Its name - Ipatiev Chronicle - was received at the place of detection. Along with the Lavrentievsky vault, this one is one of the oldest. Its peculiarity is that, besides the usual inclusion of the narrative of Nestor, he has a detailed account of the events of the history of the Kiev principality of the reign of Rurik Rostislavovich, and also of the Galicia-Volyn lands till the end of the 13th century. This is a unique material for studying the history of ancient Russian southwestern lands after the beginning of feudal fragmentation and the establishment of the Tatar-Mongolian rule.

How to read the text?

Acquaintance with the ancient chronicles is possible for a wide range of readers. Firstly, more than 150 years ago, the Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles was published. Secondly, at the moment most of them are available on the Internet. Of course, they are processed in accordance with the modern Russian language. The Ipatiev Chronicle, whose translation is also realized in the Ukrainian language, is also available to anyone who wants to. Certain parts of it exist in English. But if there is still a desire to read the annals in the original, then you need to learn, at least, Old Slavonic. Materials are scanned and laid out in the network.

Contents of the Ipatiev arch

It is generally accepted to distinguish three parts of the vault in question. The first chronicle on the Ipatievsky list is traditional for all others - it is "The Tale of Bygone Years". Although there are some differences in it, refinement of the data, which is not present in other arches. This proves that the creation site was the southern Russian lands, where the author of the arch had access to documents and archives and could clarify the necessary information.

The second part is called Kievskaya. A lot of attention is paid to it in the reign of Prince Ruriuk from the house of Rostislav. Presumably, the hegumen of the Vydubitsky Monastery was the author of this part of the arch "Ipatiev Chronicle".

Ukraine, more precisely, Galicia-Volyn Rus, in the thirteenth century is represented in the third part of the arch. This part is different from the previous ones. In the original, it did not even have a traditional listing of dates, which, apparently, were indicated when decommissioning later. Let us dwell in more detail on the last two parts.

The Kiev chronicle

As it may sound paradoxical, but the Kiev Chronicle is also a collection of chroniclers of several princes who ruled in Kiev. The twelfth century was quite complicated for this land. Continuously there was a struggle for the throne between Monomakh and the Olgovichi. This trend was visible not only in the capital city, but also in other lands. The descendants of Monomakh moved to the north-east, conquering unlimited power there, and the Olgovichi remained in the south, under the threat of Polovtsian raids.

In 1185 Igor Svyatoslavovich's mournful campaign in the steppe, described in the "Lay of Igor's Host", took place. The attitude towards it is quite the opposite in the Laurentian and Ipatiev Chronicles. The latter shows more sympathy and indulgence for Igor's failed attempt to rid the Russian land of enemies. In the vault of the northeastern lands, Igor is condemned for presumption, for not having waited for help from the brothers. Some researchers believe that the beginning of the Kiev Chronicle was laid in Chernigov and Pereyaslavl under Prince Rostislav. It is from there that details from the life of the southern principalities.

About Galicia-Volyn Rus

Galich and Volyn, as the western frontiers of Kievan Rus, had significant features in development. On the nuances of political struggle, international relations from 1205 to 1292, we read in the Ipatiev Chronicle. It should be noted that the compilers of the last part were the most educated people of their time, since they used Greek and earlier Old Russian sources. Information they drew from reports of ambassadors, princely letters, military novels. Thanks to this code we have a detailed description of the battle on Kalka and the consequences of the Batyev invasion of South-West Russia. We hope, now it is clear that describes the Ipatiev Chronicle and why it is interesting both to the townsfolk and to professional historians.