Abstract:

The article considers the reliability of the news contained in the texts of the Borisoglebian cycle, in which Svyatopolk the Cursed is described as a murderer of Boris and Gleb. The truth of this news aroused and raises doubts among a number of historians who are inclined to consider this version of the events of the death of at least Boris falsified either during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise or in times of his sons. Scientists — supporters of the ‘conspirological’ hypothesis believe that the real killer of at least Boris was in fact Yaroslav the Wise. In their opinion, the truth is preserved in the Icelandic text — Strand about Eymond son of Hring (Eymunder páttr Hringssomur), which tells about the murder of the Russian king Buritslav (identified by these historians with B ris) on the orders of his brother Yaritsleiv (Yaroslav the Wise). The article first of all considers the arguments put forward by one of the supporters of this hypothesis K.A. Kostromin. It is proved that Svyatopolk had real reasons for killing of Boris and Gleb, and that there is no obvious speculation and contradictions in the works of the Borisoglebian cycle that testify to their unreliability.

References:

1. Borovkov, D.A. Taina gibeli Borisa i Gleba [The Mystery of the Death of Boris and Gleb]. Available at: http://oldrushistory.ru/library/Tayna-gibeli-Borisa-i-Gleba-/ (accessed 09 March 2020). (In Russian)
2. Bugoslavskii, S.A. Tekstologiia Drevnei Rusi [The Textology of Old Rus’], vol. 2: Drevnerusskie literaturnye proizvedeniia o Borise i Glebe [Old Russian Literary Works about Boris and Gleb], ed. by Iu.A. Artamonov. Moscow, Iazyki slavianskikh kul’tur Publ., 2006. 672 p. (In Russian)
3. Vinogradov, A.Iu. “Osobennosti borisoglebskikh torzhestv v svete vizantiiskoi traditsii” [“The Features of Boris and Gleb Festivals in the Light of Byzantine Traditions”]. Slověne, nо. 2, 2012, pp. 117–134. (In Russian)
4. Glazyrina, G.V. Saga ob Ingvare Puteshestvennike: Tekst, per., comment. [Saga of Ingvar the Traveler: Text, Translation, Commentary]. Moscow, Vostochnaia literatura Publ., 2002. 463 p. (In Russian)
5. Golubinskii, E. Istoriia Russkoi tserkvi [The History of Russian Church], vol. 1, part 1. 2nd ed., revised, Moscow, Universitetskaia tip. Publ., 1901. XXIV+968 p. (In Russian)
6. Grigorii Turskii. Istoriia frankov [The History of Franks], ed. by V.D. Savukova. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1987. 463 p. (In Russian)
7. Grushevs’kii M. Istoriia Ukraïni-Rusi: v 11 t. [The History of the Ukraine-Rus’: in 11 vols.]. Vol. II. 2nd ed., Kiïv, Naukova dumka Publ., 1992. 640 p. (In Ukranian)
8. Dzhakson, T.N. Islandskie korolevskie sagi o Vostochnoi Evrope (pervaia tret’ XI v.): Teksty, perevod, kommentarii [Royal Icelandic Sagas about Eastern Europe (First Third of the 11th Century): Texts, Translation, Commentary]. Moscow, Nauchno- izdatel’skii tsentr “Ladomir” Publ., 1994. 254 p. (In Russian)
9. Dzhakson, T.N. Islandskie korolevskie sagi o Vostochnoi Evrope: Teksty, perevody i kommentarii [Royal Icelandic Sagas about Eastern Europe: Texts, Translation, Commentaries]. 2nd ed, revised. Moscow, Universitet Dmitriia Pozharskogo Publ., 2013. 779 p. (In Russian)
10. Ol’shevskaia, L.A., and Travnikov, S.N., editors. Drevnerusskie pateriki: Kievo- Pecherskii paterik. Volokolamskii paterik [Old Russian Patericons: The Kievan- Pecherskian Patericon. The Volokolamskian Patericon]. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1999. 496 p. (In Russian)
11. Dzhakson, T.N., and Konovalova, I.G., and Podosinov, A.V., editors. Drevniaia Rus’ v svete zarubezhnykh istochnikov: Khrestomatiia [Old Rus’ in the Light of Foreign Sources: Reader], vol. IV, ed. by A.V. Nazarenko. Moscow, Russkii Fond Sodeistviia Obrazovaniiu i Nauke Publ., 2010. 512 p. (In Russian)
12. Dzhakson, T.N., and Konovalova, I.G., and Podosinov, A.V., editors. Drevniaia Rus’ v svete zarubezhnykh istochnikov: Khrestomatiia [Old Rus’ in the Light of Foreign Sources: Reader], vol. 5, eds. by G.V. Glazyrina, T.N. Dzhakson, E.A. Mel’nikova. Moscow, Russkii Fond Sodeistviia Obrazovaniiu i Nauke Publ., 2009. 384 p. (In Russian)
13. Abramovich, D.I., editor. Zhitiia sviatykh muchenikov Borisa i Gleba i sluzhby im [Vita of the Holy Martyrs Boris and Gleb and Their Services]. Petrograd, Tipografiia Imperatorskoi Akademii nauk, 1916. XXIII+204 p. (In Russian)
14. Il’in N.N. Letopisnaia stat’ia 6523 goda i ee istochnik: (Opyt analiza) [Chronicle Article of 6523 and Its Source: (Experience of Analysis)]. Moscow, Izdatel’stvo AN SSSR, 1957. 210 p. (In Russian)
15. Karamzin, N.M. Istoriia gosudarstva Rossiiskogo: v 12 t. [The History of Russian State: in 12 vols.], eds. by A.N. Sakharov, V.Iu. Afiani, V.M. Zhivov, V.P. Kozlov. Vol. 2/3. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1991. 829 p. (In Russian)
16. Karpov, A.Iu. Iaroslav Mudryi [Iaroslav the Vise]. Moscow, Molodaia gvardiia Publ., 2001. 583 p. (In Russian)
17. Kloss, B.M. Izbrannye trudy [Selected Works], vol. 2. Moscow, Iazyki russkoi kul’tury Publ., 2001. 488 p. (In Russian)
18. Kliuchevskii, V.O. Lektsii po russkoi istorii, chitannye na Vysshikh zhenskikh kursakh v Moskve v 1872–1875 gg. [Lectures on Russian History Delivered at the Higher Women’s Courses in Moscow in 1872–1875], eds. by R.A. Kireeva and A.F. Kiselev. Moscow, Vlados Publ., 1997. 816 p. (In Russian)
19. Korolev, A.S. Sviatoslav [Svyatoslav]. Moscow, Molodaia gvardiia Publ., 2011. 351 p. (In Russian)
20. Kostromin, K.A. “Borisoglebskaia problema: vopros doveriia istochnikam” [“Borisoglebian Problem: a Question of Trust in Sources”]. Trudy istoricheskogo fakul’teta Sankt-Peterburgskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta [Proceedings of the Faculty of History, St. Petersburg State University], nо. 6, 2011, pp. 55–70. (In Russian)
21. Litvina, A.F., Uspenskii, F.B. Vybor imeni u russkikh kniazei v X–XVI vv.: Dinasticheskaia istoriia skvoz’ prizmu antroponimiki [Choosing a Name among Russian Princes in the 10th–16th Centuries: Dynastic History through the Prism of Anthroponymy]. Moscow, Indrik Publ., 2006. 904 p. (In Russian)
22. Mavrodin, V.V. Ocherki istorii Levoberezhnoi Ukrainy (S drevneishikh vremen do vtoroi poloviny XIV veka) [Essays on the History of Left-Bank Ukraine (From Old Times to the Second Half of the 14th Century)]. St. Petersburg, Nauka Publ., 2002. 416 p. (In Russian)
23. Mel’nikova, E.A. “Kompozitsiia i sostav ‘Sagi ob Eimunde syne Khringa’.” [“Com- position and composition of ‘The Saga of Amund son of Hring’.”]. Visy druzhby: Sbornik statei v chest’ Tat’iany Nikolaevny Dzhakson [Visas of Friendship: Collection of Articles in Honor of Tatyana Nikolaevna Jackson], eds. by N.Iu. Gvozdetckaia, I.G. Konovalova, E.A. Mel’nikova, A.V. Podosinov. Moscow, Universitet Dmitriia Pozharskogo Publ., 2011, pp. 255–268. (In Russian)
24. Mikheev, S.M. “Sviatopolk sѣde v Kievѣ po ottsi”: Usobitsa 1015–1019 godov v drevnerusskikh i skandinavskikh istochnikakh [“Svyatopolk Ascended the throne in Kiev after His Father”: The Strife of 1015–1019 in Old Russian and Scandinavian Sources]. Moscow, Institut slavianovedeniia RAN Publ., 2009. 292 p. (In Russian)
25. Nazarenko, A.V. Nemetskie latinoiazychnye istochniki IX–XI vekov: Teksty, per., comment. [German Latin-Language Sources of the 9th–11th Centuries: Texts, Translation, Comments]. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1993. 238 p. (In Russian)
26. Nazarenko, A.V. “Poriadok prestolonaslediia na Rusi X–XII vv.: Sen’orat, nasledstvennye razdely i popytki designatsii (Tipologicheskie nabliudeniia)” [“The Succession Order in Russia of the 10th–12th Centuries: Senorat, Hereditary Sections and Attempts to Designation (Typological Observations)”]. Iz istorii russkoi kul’tury [From the History of Russian Culture], vol. 1, eds. by. A.D. Koshe- lev, V.Ia. Petrukhin. Moscow, Iazyki russkoi kul’tury Publ., 2000, pp. 500–519. (In Russian)
27. Nazarenko, A.V. Drevniaia Rus’ na mezhdunarodnykh putiakh: Mezhdistsiplinarnye ocherki kul’tury, torgovli, politicheskikh sviazei IX–XII vekov [Old Russia on International Routes: Interdisciplinary Essays on Culture, Trade, Political Relations of the 9th–12th Centuries]. Moscow, Iazyki russkoi kul’tury Publ., 2001. 784 p. (In Russian)
28. Nazarenko, A.V. “Kievskii mitropolit Ioann I” [“Kievan Metropolitan Ioann I”]. Drevniaia Rus’: Voprosy medievistiki, nо. 3, 2007, pp. 76–77. (In Russian)
29. Nasonov, A.N. “Russkaia zemlia” i obrazovanie territorii Drevnerusskogo gosudarstva: Istoriko-geograficheskoe issledovanie. Mongoly i Rus’: Istoriia tatarskoi politiki na Rusi [“Russian Land” and the Formation of the Territory of the Old Russian State: Historical and Geographical Research. Mongols and Russia: History of Tatar Politics in Russia], 2nd ed. St. Petersburg, Nauka Publ., 2006. 416 p. (In Russian)
30. Petrukhin, V.Ia. “Drevniaia Rus’. Narod. Kniaz’ia. Religiia” [“Old Rus’. People. Princes. Religion”]. Iz istorii russkoi kul’tury [From the History of Russian Culture], vol. 1, ed. by A.D. Koshelev, V.Ia. Petrukhin. Moscow, Iazyki russkoi kul’tury Publ., 2000, pp. 11–410. (In Russian)
31. Petrukhin, V.Ia. “Khristianstvo na Rusi vo vtoroi polovine X — pervoi polovine XI v.” [“Christianity in Russia in the Second Half of the 10th — the First Half of the 11th Century”]. Khristianstvo v stranakh Vostochnoi, Iugo-Vostochnoi i Tsentral’noi Evropy na poroge vtorogo tysiacheletiia [Christianity in the Countries of Eastern, Southeast and Central Europe on the Threshold of the Second Millennium], ed. by B.N. Floria. Moscow, Iazyki slavianskoi kul’tury Publ., 2002, pp. 60–132. (In Russian)
32. Likhachev, D.S., and Adrianova-Peretz V.P., editors. Povest’ vremennykh let [The Primary Chronicle], 2nded. St. Petersburg, Nauka Publ., 1996. 667 p. (In Russian)
33. Podskal’ski, G. Khristianstvo i bogoslovskaia literatura v Kievskoi Rusi (988–1237) [Christianity and Theological Literature in Kievan Rus (988–1237)], 2nd ed., revised, trans. by A.V. Nazarenko, ed. by. K.K. Akent’ev. St. Petersburg, Vizantinorossika Publ., 1996. 576 p. (In Russian)
34. Polevoi, N.A. Istoriia russkogo naroda [History of the Russian People], vol. 1. Moscow, Veche Publ., 1997. 640 p. (In Russian)
35. Poppe, A.V. “Zemnaia gibel’ i nebesnoe torzhestvo Borisa i Gleba” [“Earthly Death and Heavenly Triumph of Boris and Gleb”]. Trudy Otdela drevnerusskoi literatury [Proceedings of the Department of Old Russian Literature], vol. 54. St. Petersburg, Dmitrii Bulanin Publ., 2003, pp. 304–336. (In Russian)
36. Presniakov, A.E. Kniazhoe pravo v Drevnei Rusi. Lektsii po russkoi istorii. Kievskaia Rus’ [Princely Law in Old Russia. Lectures on the Russian History. Kievan Rus’], ed. by M.B. Sverdlov. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1993. 635 p. (In Russian)
37. Priselkov, M.D. Ocherki po tcerkovno-politicheskoi istorii Kievskoi Rusi X–XII vv. [Essays on the Church-Political History of the 10th–12th centuries Kievan Rus’]. St. Petersburg, Nauka Publ., 2003. 245 p. (In Russian)
38. Ranchin, A.M. Boris i Gleb [Boris and Gleb]. Moscow, Molodaia gvardia Publ., 2013. 298 p. (In Russian)
39. Ranchin, A.M. Pamiatniki Borisoglebskogo tsikla: Tekstologiia, poetika, religiozno- kul’turnyi kontekst [The Works of the Borisoglebian Cycle: Textology, Poetics, Religious and Cultural Context]. Moscow, Universitet Dmitriia Pozharskogo Publ.; Russkii fond sodeistviia obrazovaniiu i nauke Publ., 2017. 512 p. (In Russian)
40. Ranchin, A.M. “Skazanie o prizvanii variagov: fakty, gipotezy, domysly” [“The Legend of the Calling of the Varangians: Facts, Hypotheses, Speculation”]. Rossiia XXI, nо. 1, 2018, pp. 132–161. (In Russian)
41. Sviatye kniaz’ia-mucheniki Boris i Gleb: Issledovanie i podgot. tekstov N.I. Miliutenko [Holy Princes Martyrs Boris and Gleb: Research and Preparation texts by N.I. Milyutenko]. St. Petersburg, Aleksei Obyshko’s Publ., 2006. 432 p. (In Russian)
42. Solov’ev, S.M. Istoriia Rossii s drevneishikh vremen [History of Russia since Old Times], book 1 (vol. 1–2). Moscow, Izdatel’stvo sotsial’no-ekonomicheskoi literatury Publ., 1959. 811 p. (In Russian)
43. Uspenskii, B.A. Boris i Gleb: Vospriiatie istorii v Drevnei Rusi [Boris and Gleb: Perception of History in Old Rus’]. Moscow, Iazyki russkoi rul’tury Publ., 2000. 128 p. (In Russian)
44. Khoroshev, A.S. Politicheskaia istoriia russkoi kanonizatsii (X–XVI vv.) [The Political History of Russian Canonization (10–16 Centuries)]. Moscow, Izdatel’stvo Moskovskogo universiteta Publ., 1986. 207 p. (In Russian)
45. Shaikin, A.A. “‘Ostavim vse, kak est’ (po povodu sovremennykh interpretatsii ubiistva Borisa i Gleba)” [“‘Let’s leave it as it is’ (Regarding Modern Interpretations of the Murder of Boris and Gleb)”]. Trudy Otdela drevnerusskoi literatury [Proceedings of the Department of Old Russian Literature], vol. 54. St. Petersburg, Dmitrii Bulanin Publ., 2003, pp. 337–369. (In Russian)
46. Shakhmatov, A.A. Istoriia russkogo letopisaniia [History of Russian Annals], vol. 1, book 1. St. Petersburg, Nauka Publ., 2002. 484 p. (In Russian)
47. Shliakov, N.V. O pouchenii Vladimira Monomakha [About the Instruction by Vladimir Monomakh]. St. Petersburg, Tipografiia V.S. Balasheva i Ko Publ., 1900. 116 p. (In Russian)
48. Cook, R. “Russian History, Icelandic Story and Byzantine Strategy in Eymunder páttr Hringssomur.” Viator, vol. 17, 1986, pp. 65–89. (In English)
49. Florja, B.N. “Václavská legenda a borisovsko-glebovský kult (shody a rozdíly).” Československý časopis historický, ročn. XXVI, nr 1, 1978, pp. 83–96. (In Czech)
50. Ingham, N.W. “The Martyred Prince and the Question of Slavic Cultural Continuity in the Early Middle Ages.” Medieval Russian Culture, [vol. 1], ed. by H. Birnbaum and Moscow, Flier. Berkeley; Los Angeles; London, University of California Press, 1984, (California Slavic Studies. Vol. 12), pp. 26–37. (In English)
51. Poppe, A. “La naissance du culte de Boris et Gleb.” Cahiers de civilization medieval, XXIV annèe, nr. 1, 1981, pp. 29–54. (In French)
52. Poppe, A. “Spuścizna po Włodzimierzu Wielkim: walka o tron kijowski 1015– 1019.” Kwartalnik Historyczny, rocznik CII, nr. 3–4. 1995, pp. 3–22. (In Polish)
53. Volkov, V. Vladimir the Russian Viking. 3rd print. Woodstock; New York, The Overlook Press, 1998. 384 p. (In English)