"The aim of this study is to write the political history of the dynasty of Kievan Rus' descended from Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh, which ruled from the middle of the eleventh century to the middle of the thirteenth century. In doing so, it argues, both from documented evidence and from circumstantial evidence, that Monomakh manipulated the politics of Rus' to his advantage. The book attempts to address all relevant political information that the chronicles report on Vladimir Monomakh. The events are examined in chronological order in imitation of the method used by the chronicles. It is hoped that this method of presentation will give the readers a clearer understanding of the relationship of the various events, such as succession rivalries, territorial disputes, and treaties. From the time of Yaroslav's death in 1054 to the first half of the 1240s, of all the dynasties, Vsevolod's descendants most consistently wielded political supremacy. In large part, the groundwork for their success was laid by Vladimir Monomakh. In addition to being blessed with good fortune, Monomakh exercized exceptional foresight, ambition, and political acumen. To date, however, no comprehensive study has been written concerning the dynasty as a whole. This study proposes to fill that lacuna. This book is addressed to scholars and students of the history of Kievan Rus'. It proposes to introduce students to the princely dynasties of Kievan Rus' and to the problems that the princes of these dynasties faced, such as succession in an orderly manner. It also provides a detailed examination of these problems for the mature scholar."--

The aim of this study is to write the political history of the dynasty of Kievan Rus' descended from Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh, which ruled from the middle of the eleventh century to the middle of the thirteenth century. In doing so, it argues, both from documented evidence and from circumstantial evidence, that Monomakh manipulated the politics of Rus' to his advantage. The book attempts to address all relevant political information that the chronicles report on Vladimir Monomakh. The events are examined in chronological order in imitation of the method used by the chronicles. It is hoped that this method of presentation will give the readers a clearer understanding of the relationship of the various events, such as succession rivalries, territorial disputes, and treaties. From the time of Yaroslav's death in 1054 to the first half of the 1240s, of all the dynasties, Vsevolod's descendants most consistently wielded political supremacy. In large part, the groundwork for their success was laid by Vladimir Monomakh. In addition to being blessed with good fortune, Monomakh exercised exceptional foresight, ambition, and political acumen. To date, however, no comprehensive study has been written concerning the dynasty as a whole. This study proposes to fill that lacuna. This book is addressed to scholars and students of the history of Kievan Rus'. It proposes to introduce students to the princely dynasties of Kievan Rus' and to the problems that the princes of these dynasties faced, such as succession in an orderly manner. It also provides a detailed examination of these problems for the mature scholar.

In The Nature and the Image of Princely Power in Kievan Rus', 980-1054, Walter K. Hanak offers a critical analysis of the annalistic, literary, and other works that provide rich if conflicting and contradictory information on the nature of princely power and their image or literary representations. The primary sources demonstrate an interaction between the reality and the notions concerning princely power and how this power generates an image of itself. The author also analyses the textual incongruities that appear to be a reflection of a number of currents -- Byzantine, Varangian, Khazar, and Eastern Slavic. The secondary sources provide a variety of interpretations, which Hanak seeks to uphold and dispute. His stress, however, is to view this evidence in the light of a newly Christianized state and the launching of a maturative process in its early history.

An historical study of the contest for the legacy of Kievan Rus. This contest was conducted by the various Slav states - Russia, the Ukraine and Poland - with the aim of establishing direct historical continuity to Kievan Rus in order to validate their claims to its legacy.

A leading international authority discusses all aspects of Russian history, from the struggle by the state to control society to the transformation of the nation into a multi-ethnic empire, Russia's relations with the West and the post-Soviet era. Original.