Feudal fragmentation in Russia

1. Feudal fragmentation in Russia

2.

3.

However, the heirs of Yaroslav - Izyaslav, Svyatoslav, Vsevolod - could
not preserve the unity of Russia. The internecine strife between the
brothers led to the weakening of Kievan Rus, which was taken
advantage of by a new formidable enemy that appeared on the southern
borders of the state - the Polovtsy. These were nomads who drove out
the Pechenegs who lived here earlier. In 1068 the combined troops of
the Yaroslavich brothers were defeated by the Polovtsy, which led to an
uprising in Kiev. A new uprising in Kiev, which broke out after the
death of the Kiev prince Svyatopolk Izyaslavich in 1113, forced the
Kiev nobility to call for reign of Vladimir Monomakh, the grandson of
Yaroslav the Wise, an imperious and authoritative prince. Vladimir was
the inspirer and direct leader of military campaigns against the
Polovtsy in 1103, 1107 and 1111.

4.

Having become the prince of Kiev, he suppressed the uprising, but at
the same time he was forced by legislative means to somewhat soften
the position of the lower classes. This is how the charter of Vladimir
Monomakh arose, which, without encroaching on the foundations of
feudal relations, sought to somewhat alleviate the situation of peasants
who fell into debt bondage. The same spirit is imbued with the
"Instruction" by Vladimir Monomakh, where he advocated the
establishment of peace between feudal lords and peasants. The reign
of Vladimir Monomakh was a time of strengthening of Kievan Rus.
He managed to unite under his rule significant territories of the
ancient Russian state and stop the princely feuds.

5.

However, after his death, feudal fragmentation in Russia intensified
again. The reason for this phenomenon was the very course of the
economic and political development of Russia as a feudal state. The
strengthening of large land tenure - estates dominated by subsistence
farming, led to the fact that they became independent production
complexes associated with their immediate environment. Cities became
economic and political centers of estates. Feudal lords became
complete masters of their land, independent of the central government.

6.

The victories of Vladimir Monomakh over the Polovtsy, which
temporarily eliminated the military threat, also contributed to the
separation of individual lands. Kievan Rus disintegrated into
independent principalities, each of which in terms of the size of the
territory could be compared with the middle Western European
kingdom. These were Chernigov, Smolensk, Polotsk, Pereyaslavskoe,
Galitskoe, Volyn, Ryazan, Rostov-Suzdal, Kiev principality, Novgorod
land. Each of the principalities not only had its own internal order, but
also pursued an independent foreign policy.

7.

The process of feudal fragmentation opened the way for the
consolidation of the system of feudal relations. However, it had several
negative consequences. The division into independent principalities
did not stop the princely strife, and the principalities themselves began
to split between the heirs. In addition, within the principalities, a
struggle began between the princes and local boyars. Each side strove
for the greatest completeness of power, calling on foreign troops to
fight the enemy. But most importantly, the defenses of Russia were
weakened, which was soon taken advantage of by the Mongol
conquerors.