5. Smolensk Principality On the territory of the present Smolensk region, the Krivichi tribes (Dnieper-Dvina Balts) have lived for a long time. In the 8th century, the Varangians also appeared here. In the 9th century, the first settlements of the Smolensk Krivichi arose - Gnezdovo on the Dnieper (many were discovered here

Principality of Smolensk

The territory and cities of the Smolensk Principality until the beginning of the 13th century

We have determined the general ethnographic border of the lands of the Krivichi and Dregovichi; Now let us turn to a more precise definition of the political boundaries of the principalities formed by the named tribes.

The Dregovichi formed a special principality already under Vladimir the Holy (Grand Duke of Kiev in 980–1015 - Ed.), with the main city of Turov; They also inhabited the Beresteyskaya land in the west in the middle reaches of the Western Bug. The Polotsk Krivichi stood out even earlier than this time; they formed a separate principality after the death of Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise (died in 1054 - Ed.), and Smolensk Krivichi. Thus, three principalities were formed already in the early era: Smolensk, Polotsk and Turov.

“Initial Chronicle” (written by Nestor around 1115. - Ed.), in his geographical outline, he briefly defines the position of the named tribes. She says about the Dregovichi that they sat between Pripyat and Dvina; The Krivichi lived on the upper reaches of the Dnieper, Dvina and Volga, and some of them settled on the Polota River.

Even a cursory glance at these chronicle news reveals all their incompleteness and uncertainty. When studying subsequent news, with the help of other indications in the chronicle of cities, it is possible to determine the political boundaries of the named principalities with greater accuracy.

When starting to define political boundaries, we note, however, that chronicle data is not always enough to determine border places. In this case, you have to use other instructions. Thus, it is a known fact that the ancient Russian princes built border fortifications that bore the names: gorodok, gorodets, fortified settlement, gorodnya, rubezh, zarubezhe, etc. Border residents settled near the fortifications and formed villages and cities with the same names.

Knowing this circumstance, and carefully following the maps of those places where we can lay the ancient border, we actually find a number of villages with names that should lead us to the conviction that the border really lay here. Moreover, since the ethnographic boundaries for the most part coincided with the political ones, we always find settlements in border areas with names reminiscent of this or that tribe. With these names, the people obviously tried to indicate that the inhabitants belonged to one or another tribe. Thus, we will encounter names reminiscent of Krivichi: Krivsk, Krivichi, Kriveno, etc.; Radimichi: Radimich, Radulya, etc.; Dregovichi: Dorogichin, etc. Taking into account the above, it is possible to draw the boundaries of the Smolensk Krivichi in this way.

But sometimes you can pick up several similar-sounding geographical names or even quite similar ones, while the source information does not indicate the approximate location of a given area. Then, we think, we should rather adhere to the names of rivers and lakes, since they are older, in general, than the names of populated places and their very names are more firmly established among the people. At the same time, it is a well-known fact that Russian Slavs often named populated cities after the river. We will adhere to this basis in subsequent essays.

In the east, the borders of the Smolensk region reached the upper reaches of the Volga near the city of Verzhavsk (now Rzhev, Tver province), from where they crossed to the upper reaches of the Protva, Moskva River, on the tributary of which Iskani was a city of the same name. Then they headed south, approximately along the Vora River, which flows into the Ugra River in Yukhnovsky district, along which the border stretched to its headwaters, located in the Smolensk region. The Ugra with its upper reaches approaches the rivers Degne and Bolva, or Obolva, on which in the middle of the 12th century we see the Smolensk city of Obolv, which, therefore, was the extreme point in the southeast.

From here the border crossed along the Desna River, until it flows into Snopot, and along Snopot to the Desna; further along the Desna, perhaps until it flows into the last river Gabni in the Oryol province, not far from the borders of the Smolensk province. On this border we meet the cities of Patsyn, now a village in Roslavl district, Rognedino on the border of the same district, and Roslavl. Further, the border ran along the watershed of the Desna and Voronitsa rivers, south of Roslavl, from where the border turned southwest to Sozh.

Turning to the data of modern geographical nomenclature, we see on this border: Pogoreloe Gorodishche in the Tver province east of Zubtsov, Buigorodok on Gzhati in the Smolensk province and several others. Further in the Ugra region: the village of Rubikhino, on the border with the Moscow province north of Yukhnov; An ancient settlement on the Ugra, especially - Abroad, between Vyazma and Dorogobuzh, not far from the borders of the latter; Gorodechno, at the headwaters of the Bolva in the Kaluga province, Gorodok on the upper Ugra, in the southern corner of the Dorogobuzh district; Raduli, reminiscent of the neighboring Radimichi, is a village in Roslavl district; south of Patsyn - Gorodets, a station on the railway from Bryansk to Roslavl.

The southern border of the Smolensk reign, starting in the southern part of the Roslavl district, also captured the middle part of the Klimovichi district of the Mogilev province, where we see the Smolensk city of Zara and the village of Dedin on Ostra, in which you can see the ancient Dedogostichs. Higher up on the Sozh is Krechyut (Krichev). Further, the Smolensk possessions captured the entire upper reaches of the Sozh, crossing it between Chichersk and Propoisk at the mouth of the Dobrycha River, on which, in all likelihood, Dobrochkov, mentioned in the charter of Rostislav, was located. On this border we see Propoisk of the Rogachev district on the Sozh (ancient Prupoy) and to the south of it Chichersk, at the confluence of the Chichera with the Sozh, a Radimichi city that belonged to the Chernigov principality. Along the Dobrych River, the southern Smolensk border headed to the Dnieper, which it adjoined at Luchin, below Rogachev. A little higher here was the Smolensk village of Vet, between Novo-Bykhov and Rogachev, and to the south of it the city of Luchin.

Turning then to the data of modern geographical nomenclature, we see on this border Gorodets of the Klimovichi district southwest of the town of Shumyach, directly south of Zhuravich on the tributary of the Dobrycha; to the west of it, at the upper reaches of Dobrycha - Krivsk, to the south of the latter Gorodok, then Gorodets to the southeast of Rogachev and some others.

Of the neighboring Chernigov border towns on this border we will point out: Lobinitsa on the Protva and Nerinsk, Vorotnitsy at the confluence of the Zhizdra with the Utra, Mosalsk (now the district town of the Kaluga province), Vshchizh on the Desna above Bryansk, not far from it Vorobeyna and Ormina on Iput and, finally, Chichersk on Sozh.

The western border of the Smolensk principality ran from Vet up the Dnieper, although it is not known whether in all places this border adjoined directly the Dnieper. So on this way we see the Kiev city of Rogachev. Kopys and Orsha belonged to the Smolensk volost only from 1116, when they were occupied by Vladimir Monomakh from the princes of Polotsk. The Smolensk settlements may have already crossed the Dnieper in this place: the Dnieper itself presents an obstacle to attack in these places, and moreover, on this border the Smolensk people had the least amount of clashes with their neighbors. In addition to the named cities, there were also: Dobryatin (the village of Dobreiki below Kopys) and Basei near the river of the same name. Therefore, here we notice only Gorodetskoye on Pronya, Gorodets on the border with the Smolensk province. From Orsha, and a little higher, the Smolensk border crossed the Dnieper and in the eastern part of the Orsha district passed into the Porechsky district of the Smolensk province to the Khotenka River on the border of the Mogilev and Smolensk provinces, flowing into Kasplya; Khotshin is believed to be on this river.

Smolensk Principality in the 12th century

Further along the Rubezhnitsa River, which flows on the border of the Vitebsk and Mogilev provinces, the line reached the borders of the Smolensk province, where it flows into the Palenitsa, a tributary of the Kaspli. On Kasplya there was the city of Kasplya (the village of Kasplya not far from the lake of the same name). In addition to the city of Kaspli, on this border we will notice Zhidici, the ancient Zhidchichi. From Kaspli, the borders headed towards the Dvina approximately opposite Usvyat Surazhsky district and, perhaps, cut the Dvina south of Lake Dvinya, from which the border ran along the watershed between the Kunya rivers, a tributary of the Lovat, and the Toropa, a tributary of the Dvina, ending north of Toropets, Pskov province, from where the border turned to the East. On this border we see the ancient Zhizhtsi at Lake Zhizhetsky, Toropetsky district.

Turning to the data of modern geographical nomenclature, we find: to the north, on the very border, Rubezh, and finally, Gorodets north of Usvyat.

As for the northern border of the Smolensk Principality, its determination is difficult due to the lack of chronicle data. The Smolensk Krivichi in the north bordered on a very related tribe of the Novgorod Slavs, and, moreover, the trade interests of the neighboring regions were so common that clashes between them were very rare. All this leads to the fact that at this border the traces of fortifications are least noticeable, and, moreover, the chronicles do not have occasion to mention border places.

The northern border of the Smolensk region with Novgorod began north of Toropets, which belonged to the Smolensk region; further the line went to Lake Seliger, although it is not known whether this important point of the waterway was in the possession of the Novgorodians alone or they owned it together with the Smolensk people. From Seliger the line went to the Volkhov to the city of Rzhev, Tver province, from which it moved in a south-eastern direction to the Gzhatsky district of the Smolensk province.

These were the boundaries of the Grand Duchy of Smolensk in the first era of its independent life, as a separate independent fief, which actually dates back to the half of the 12th century during the reign of Rostislav Mstislavich, the grandson of the great Monomakh.

Having determined the border of the Smolensk land, let us now turn to its cities.

To restore the border of the Smolensk principality in the period until the end of the 12th century, we have few indications in the chronicle and, in addition, a very important document - the Charter of Prince Rostislav Mstislavich, given by him to the Smolensk diocese in 1157. The chronicle and the mentioned charter mention almost 60 cities, the location of which (at least those that can be found on modern maps) makes it possible to determine the boundaries of the principality with sufficient clarity.

Topography of “princely” Smolensk (reconstruction by L. V. Alekseev)

Churches: 1 - Michael the Archangel, 2 - Nameless on Bolshaya Krasnoflotskaya Street, 3 - Kirillovskaya, 4 - Peter and Paul, 5 - “Latin Goddess” (rotunda), 6 - St. John the Evangelist, 7 - Fridays at the Small Market, 8 - on the Resurrection Mountain, 9 - pillarless chapel, 10 - Monomakh Cathedral (1101), 11 - “Terem”, 12 - on Bolshaya Rachevka, 13 - Avraamiev Monastery (9–11 - on Detinets); a - preserved pre-Mongol churches, b - pre-Mongol churches known from excavations

Fortifications of Smolensk in the 12th century. (Reconstruction by Yu.E. Kashtanov)

The most important geographical document is Rostislav's charter. She mentions 47 cities, of which only a few are mentioned in the chronicle. Before moving on to the definition of the cities of the Smolensk land, let's consider the composition of the said charter.

When identifying cities on modern maps named in Rostislav's charter, scientists usually look for similar-sounding names of current villages on the territory of the former Smolensk principality, unless there are other, more specific indications. But at the same time, there are often several identical or similar-sounding names. Which one should you prefer? What exactly was the city or village during the time of Rostislav?

So, the charter mentions Dobryatino and Dobrochkovo. On modern maps of the Smolensk and eastern parts of the Mogilev province, many villages can be indicated, the name of which comes from the word “kind”: Dobroye, a village in the Chaussky district of the Mogilev province; Dobromysl of Orsha district of the same province; Dobrichki of Rogachevsky district, which Barsov points to. We will also add Dobreiki on the Dnieper, between Kopys and Mogilev, etc. If you directly select the area from the map, then each of them has an equal right to be recognized as the mentioned villages in the charter. This definition is unsatisfactory. It would be important to determine at least approximately the area in which the named cities should be looked for.

It seems to us that Rostislav’s charter itself provides some basis for such a definition, if we pay attention to the order of the cities mentioned in it. It is natural to assume that the scribe who compiled it was guided by some principle when listing the cities. It is unlikely that he named the city that came to his mind, without any order. Most likely, the order of listing depended on the position of the cities along the way the prince collected tribute. The scribe remembered from which city the prince usually went to collect tribute, had the corresponding records at hand and named the cities according to them, in order.

Indeed. If we pay attention to the order of those of the named cities, the position of which we can undoubtedly indicate on a modern map, we will see that the cities were mentioned in the charter in a certain sequence.

According to its composition, the charter is divided into three parts (actually three charters): the first lists the cities and the amount of tribute due from them to the bishop, the second (with the words “I am evil and sinful,” etc.) the prince’s approval of the charter, and in the third (from the words “And this is a city”, etc. to the end) is a listing of the cities from which the bishop is given “a city and honor”). The last part names 11 most important cities in no particular order.

In the first part, 37 localities are named, with the exception of villages given to the bishop in direct possession (Drosensky, Yasensky, etc.). It seems to us that the compiler of the document named these areas in a certain order. Here are the cities listed:

1. Verzhavleni Velikie.

2. Vrochnitsy.

3. Hurry up.

5. Kaspli.

6. Hotshin.

7. Zhabachev (Votovichi).

8. Shuispei.

9. Deshpyani.

10. Vetskaya.

12. Bortnitsa.

13. Showcase.

14. Zhidchichi.

16. Miryatichi.

17. Dobryatino.

18. Dobrochkovo.

19. Bobrovnitsy

20. Dedogostichi

22. Jenny the Great

23. Patsin

24. Malthouses

25. Puttin

26. Benitsi

27. Dedici

29. Prutui

30. Gyrfalcon

32. Delusion

33. Iskan

34. Suzhdal-Zalessky

35. Verzhavsk

36. Lodeynitsy

37. Toropets

Even the most superficial glance at the order in which cities are counted suggests some order in their listing: the compiler, starting with the Verzhavsky churchyards and Toropets, ends with the holy fool of Verzhavsky (near which the churchyards were located) and Toropets. Little of. From the subsequent survey of cities we will see that 15 localities of literacy are defined quite accurately. Namely: Verzhavleni Velikie, Toropchi, Zhizhtsi, Kaspli, Vetskaya, Basei, Zarub, Patsin, Kopys, Prupoi, Krechyut, Luchin, Obolv, Iskan, Suzhdal Zalessky. If we trace these cities on the map, we will see that the first three form the northern group; Kaspli, Vetskaya and Basei - western; Zarub, Patsin, Prupoi, Krechyut and Luchin - southern; Iskan and Suzhdal Zalessky - the eastern group. They all follow each other in order on the map.

Only Kopys does not fit into the general order of calculation: according to its position in the literacy, it is in the southern group, while its geographical location gives it a place in the western. This fact can be explained by chance, but the remaining 14 localities, of course, are not in a certain order by chance.

Defining further the cities of charter, one can most likely point to the position of the following: Khotshina, Zhabachevo, Vitritsy, Zhidchichi, Dobryatina (and maybe Dobryatina) and again these cities follow the same order.

Thus, the indicated property of the order of calculating cities in literacy gives us the opportunity to indicate with greater certainty the position of one or another city; Likewise, if several consonant names can be found for the same city of charter, then preference should be given to the one that corresponds to the place in the list: the position of the area, if not completely, then at least approximately, will be determined. For several names it is impossible to find consonant ones at all; in this case we can at least approximately indicate their position.

Now let's move on to determining the position of the cities that were mentioned both in the charter and in the chronicles. Note that some scientists (Belyaev) expressed doubt that all the areas named in the document were cities. But if we recognize the cities of a given era primarily as fortified points for military and trade purposes, around which merchants and farmers settled, to which well-known districts stretched, then it will be necessary to recognize the chartered areas as cities, regardless of the tribute they paid, as has already been proven by the professor Samokvasov.

Here is his evidence:

1) in the list of settlements that had to pay tribute in favor of the Bishop of Smolensk, the first charter charter names: Toropets, Kopys, Luchin, Mstislavl, Suzdal and Izyaslavl, but that these settlements were cities, the evidence of the chronicles and the third charter of Rostislav convince us of this.

2) In terms of the amount of tribute paid, Toropets, Kopys, Luchin, Msti-slavl, Suzhdal and Izyaslavl do not differ from other settlements.

3) Verzhavsk is named a city in the deed itself: “Verzhavsk has 3 hryvnias of the Holy Mother of God in the city,” and Verzhavsk, in terms of the amount of tribute paid to it, was the smaller of the settlement points listed in the deed.

4) Seven of the settlements listed in the first charter are mentioned in the third, where they are directly called cities. See: “Ancient Cities of Russia”, p. 87–88. - Auto.

Great Verzhavleni, consisting of nine churchyards in which the Istuzhniki lived were undoubtedly located near the city of Verzhavsk, present-day Rzhev, a district town of the Tver province on the upper Volga, so to speak, in its district.

Toropets- a district town in the Pskov province near the lake of the same name. This is one of the oldest cities; We find the first mention of it in the 12th century; Rostislav Mstislavich passed through it in 1168 on a date with his son Svyatoslav, who was then reigning in Novgorod. Toropets is mentioned in the Patericon of Pechersk in the biography of St. Isaac, who was from this city.

It was located on one of the branches of the great waterway, and therefore already in the 12th century it was one of the richest cities: from it the prince received 400 hryvnia in income - in terms of the amount of which it stood out significantly from all the cities named in the charter. Rich princely fishing grounds were also located here (Rostislav’s charter). The Kiev-Pechersk recluse Isaac is called a rich Toropets merchant. At the very beginning of the 13th century, Toropets was already allocated as a special inheritance and from that time on acquired special fame and significance. The city in ancient times was well fortified, since it represents the extreme and important point of the Smolensk principality in the north; There are several settlements near it. In the 16th century it was surrounded by wooden fortifications.

Zhizhiqi- should be looked for on the shores of Lake Zhizhetsky or Zhyuzhitsky in Toropetsk district. In the chronicle this city is mentioned under 1245; under him, Alexander Nevsky defeated the Lithuanians who robbed Toropets. Judging by the amount of tribute (130 hryvnia), it was a fairly significant city. Fishing was also carried out in it (“Zhizhtsi also from all the fish that come to me, tithe to the Holy Mother of God and to the bishop”; Certificate of Rostislav).

Kasplya - Currently, in the Porech district of the Smolensk province there is Lake Kasplya, from which flows a river of the same name, which flows into the Western Dvina. On the banks of this river there is a settlement called Kasplya. This is one of the large cities: from it the prince received 100 hryvnias of tribute; it lay on the trade route from the Dnieper region to the Podvina region.

Vetskaya- on the Dnieper in the Bykhov district of the Mogilev province between Novy Bykhov and Rogachev there is the village of Vet. An insignificant village in ancient times (40 hryvnia tribute).

Basei- is determined by the Baseya River, which flows into Pronya in the Chaussky district of the Mogilev province. In ancient times, the village was insignificant, with only 15 hryvnia tribute.

Patsin- currently a village in the southeastern part of Roslavl district, west of the Desna; small settlement in ancient times.

Church of St. John the Evangelist in Smolensk (1101; reconstruction)

Kopys- a town in the Mogilev province on the Dnieper, below Orsha.

Luke, the famous bishop of Novgorod, died in it on his way from Kyiv to Novgorod in 1059. Until the beginning of the XII century. it, together with Rsha (Orsha), belonged to Polotsk and was probably inhabited by these Krivichi, but in 1116 Monomakh, in the fight against Gleb, took it away. The population of this city was small, since only 40 hryvnia were taken from it. But there was transportation across the Dnieper, from which the prince received 100 hryvnia. As a Dnieper and border city, it had a customs office (trade tribute was taken and inns were set up here, and tavern tribute was taken).

Prupoy- now Propoisk, a town in the Mogilev province of the Bykhov district on the Sozh, at the confluence of the Pronya. Also a sparsely populated city (polyudya cost only 10 hryvnia). This is the first Smolensk station on the Sozha River near the Chernigov borders, on the way from the middle Dnieper region to Smolensk. Here were the inns of the principality.

They are greaking- now the town of Krichev, Cherikovsky district of the same province, an insignificant city.

Luchin. Researchers define the position of this important city differently. However, we think that the position of this city can most reliably be attributed to the present large village of Luchin on the Dnieper, a little below Rogachev.

Luchin was the personal possession of Prince Rurik Rostislavich, received by him from his father. When Rurik left Novgorod in 1172 and returned with his family to his southern possessions, which were temporarily transferred to his brother Davyd, his son Mikhail Rostislav was born here. In memory of this event, the prince built the Church of St. The city itself gave Mikhail to the newborn.

Whether Luchin had any significance in trade, as a Dnieper city located in a very convenient location, is difficult to determine, because the amount of tribute that went to the prince from it was not read by the publishers of the charter. As from a border city and, moreover, lying on a waterway, money went to the prince from it, i.e. duties on goods passing through it, and “korchmiti”, i.e. tribute with a tavern set up in it, probably to stop travelers. From this it is clear that it served as a trading and customs station.

Obolv - at present, it is easily determined by the influx of the Desna River Bolva, in the Masalsky district of the Kaluga province, the upper reaches of which are located at the border of the Smolensk province; At the upper reaches of Bol you currently have the village of Bolva. It was a small town on the way from the Chernigov land to the Vyatichi land and to Rostov. The prince did not receive polyudye from him, but only a living tribute, i.e. tribute from passing merchants, which gives us some right to conclude that Obolv was only a small border fortification, in which only warriors and princely officials lived, at the same time it was a customs town. Obolv and its surroundings were located in the land of Vyatichi and mention of it as a Smolensk city is found only in Rostislav’s charter of 1150. Other indications in the chronicles, both earlier (1147) and later (1159), mention it as a Chernigov city. Consequently, it belonged to Smolensk for only 10 years.

Church of Michael the Archangel in Smolensk, 12th century (reconstruction)

Iskan- determined by the Iskanya River in Mozhaisky district, a tributary of the Moscow River. A small village on the eastern border.

Suzhdal Zalessky at the time of drawing up the charter did not belong to Smolensk. The charter says about him: “The Zaleskaya tribute was ordered to be returned to Gyurgi, and what would be in it would be a tithe from the Holy Mother of God”; this place serves as an indication that shortly before the fight between Rostislav and Yuri, Smolensk owned lands in the Suzdal land itself, perhaps the Smolensk colonies.

Verzhavsk - now the city of Rzhev, Tver province on the Volga. Judging by the amount of tribute (30 hryvnia) it is an insignificant city.

Hotshin- to some extent determined by the Khotenka River on the border of the Porech district of the Mogilev region. Judging by the amount of tribute (120 hryvnia), one of the big cities.

Showcase- perhaps determined by the Votrey River, a tributary of the Vopi in Dukhovshchinsky district. At its upper reaches there are the villages of Votrya and Berlina.

Zhidchichi- now a village in Porec district - Zhichitsy.

Dobryatino- perhaps now the village of Dobreika on the Dnieper, below Kopys, Mogilev province.

Dobrochkovo - perhaps now it is defined by the Dobrych River, which flows into the Sozh a little above Chichersk.

Dedogostichi - perhaps now the village of Dedin, Klimovichi district, Mogilev region.

Zarub.- We also have indications about him in the chronicle: Rostislav Mstislavich, traveling from Novgorod after a meeting with his son Svyatoslav, stopped in Zaruba, the village of Rognedino, the chronicle adds, where he died. Thus, he was on his way from Smolensk. In the Roslavsky district of the Smolensk province on the Desna there is currently a large village of Rognedino, lying on the way from Smolensk to Kyiv.

Drosenskoe- determined by the Dresenka river of Smolensk district, not far from the city; There is a village called Dresenka on this river. Drosenskoe, together with another village of Yasensky (now, perhaps, the village of Yasenskaya in the Ostashkovsky district), land in Pogonovichi Moishinsky, lakes and senokhats of Nemikorsky, senozhatami of Svekrovy Luki and lake Kolodarsky were given to the bishop into the possession of Rostislav in 1150. All these names are difficult to find on modern maps. In addition, the bishop was given the Hill.

Mstislavl - now a district town in the Mogilev province.

Rostislavl

Mstislavl in the 12th century (reconstruction)

Yelnya- also now a district town of the Smolensk province on the Desna. In the geographical description of the early 17th century (“Book of the Big Drawing”), this place is listed as the Yelnya Settlement.

Dorogobuzh- now a district town in the Smolensk province.

We have listed all the cities mentioned in Rostislav's charter, the geographical location of which can currently be positively indicated, or at least with some reliability.

Let us name the cities that were not included in the previous list due to the lack of indications in modern geographical nomenclature:

Vrochnitsy

Zhabachev

Jenny the Great

Votoovichi

Shuispei

All these cities were very significant. So, the first three paid tribute of 200 hryvnia, the Votoovichi - 100 hryvnia, and the last - 80 hryvnia. Unfortunately, their position can only be indicated approximately, due to the order in which the chartered cities are listed. Namely: Vrochnitsy should be looked for in the Toropets district, Zhabachev, Votoovichi and Shuyspei - anywhere in the Dnieper region, between Kasplay and Vet, and Zhenya the Great - in the south of the Roslavsky district.

In addition, the latest charter also mentions Kruplya And Izyaslavl. Judging by the fact that they are located among very significant cities (Mstislavl, Yelny, Roslavl, etc.), from which towns and estates were taken, one can think that these cities were more or less significant.

Of the small towns, the following are mentioned in the charter, the location of which is determined only relatively;

Deshpyany,

Bylev,

Bortnitsy

/they/ lay somewhere near Vet in the Dnieper region. Miryatichi and Bobrovnitsi

/they/ need to be looked for on the southern border, between Baseya and Zarub. They are also adjacent in position: Malthouses, Puttino, Benitsi and Dedici.

And finally Lodeynitsy lay somewhere in Rzhevsky district or Toropetsk.

We have listed all the cities of Rostislav's charter. Let us supplement this listing of the cities of the Smolensk Principality with an indication of those cities that are mentioned in the chronicle. There are few of them, so if it were not for Rostislav’s letter, there would be no way at all to even approximately determine the boundaries of the principality.

Vasiliev and Krasny.

Both cities are mentioned in the chronicle as appanage cities allocated by Rostislav Mstislavich to Roman in 1165. The first of them is currently difficult to determine. Belyaev points to the village of Vasilyevka on the borders of the Krasnensky district with Roslavsky, and Barsov points to the village of Vasilyevo in the Dorogobuzhsky district. Both definitions do not have any evidence behind them.

Krasny is now a district town in the Smolensk province.

Rysha - currently Orsha, on the Dnieper, a county town in the Mogilev province. Until 1116, it, together with Kopys, belonged to Polotsk, but Monomakh took it away. Here Vseslav of Polotsk was captured in 1068.

Zara. - The chronicle mentions him in the year 1156 on the following occasion: Yuri Vladimirovich (Dolgoruky) went to Smolensk. Rostislav went out to meet him at Zara and then they made peace. Consequently, Zaroy was located on the southern border of the principality. Currently, there is a village called Zaroi in the Klimovichi district, 10 versts from Klimovichi, near the Iput River.

In addition, another area is mentioned: Skovyshin bor, whose position is not determined; this area is considered to be part of the Smolensk principality, although one can doubt this. Skovyshin Bor entered the chronicle for the following reason: Rurik in 1180 sent his brother David Rostislavich from Vyshgorod to Smolensk to their brother Roman: “And you will die and the news will be sent to Skovyshin Bor,” that Roman had died. Thus, the chronicle does not at all indicate on whose territory David learned of his brother’s death.

We have listed all the cities of the Smolensk land. It remains to be said about the main city of the earth - Smolensk.

It was a beautifully built and decorated city, located on both sides of the Dnieper. By the end of the 12th century it shone with many rich and beautiful churches. The main part of the city and the fortress were located on the left side of the Dnieper, in a hilly area crossed by ditches. The princely palace, according to legend, was located in the present-day Svirskaya Sloboda.

The Smolensk princes contributed to the decoration of the city with churches. Thus, Vladimir Monomakh built the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in 1161; in 1146, Rostislav Mstislavich built the Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul in the Trans-Dnieper part of the city; Church of St. John the Theologian was built by Roman Rostislavich in 1180, and the latter’s brother David built a magnificent stone church in the name of the Archangel Michael, which in ancient times was considered one of the most beautiful and richest.

In the city itself and in its environs there were several monasteries: 5 versts from the city there was the Bogoroditsky Monastery, in a place called Selishche, then the Otroch Monastery, the monastery of St. Cross and the monastery built by Bishop Ignatius in honor of the position of the Robe of the Virgin Mary.

Not far from the city, the harbor of Smyadyn was known, at a distance from the city “as if in ripening”, where Gleb Muromsky died. Near Smolensk there was the village of Dresenskoye, which was given to the bishop by Rostislav in 1150.

Smolensk was the main city of a vast region, the Grand Duchy of Smolensk; it is located in an extremely visible location. The route from the Ozernaya region to the middle and lower Dnieper region ran through it, from where to Greece, the route from the Volga region and the upper Dnieper region. This connection of three important trade routes indicates the commercial importance of Smolensk.