Attributed to Nestor the Chronicler · Complete work
1059–1067: The Torks, Portents, and the Capture of Vseslav
1059–1067: The Torks, Portents, and the Capture of Vseslav of 46. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
Open the complete readerOriginal Old East Slavic
В лѣто 6567. Изяславъ, и Святославъ и Всеволодъ высадиша стрыя своего Судислава ис поруба, сѣдѣвша 20 и 4 лѣта, и водивше и́ ко кресту, и бысть черньцемь.
В лѣто 6568. Преставися Игорь, сынъ Ярославль. Того же лѣта Изяславъ, и Святославъ, и Всеволодъ и Всеславъ, совокупивше воя бещислены, и поидоша на конихъ и в лодьяхъ, бещисленое множьство, на торкы. И се слышавше, торци, убоявьшеся, пробѣгоша и до сего дни, и помроша, бѣгающе, Божиимъ гнѣвомъ гоними, овии от зимы, друзии же гладомъ, инии же моромъ и судомъ Божиимъ. И такъ Богъ избави крестьяны от поганыхъ.
В лѣто 6569. Придоша половци первое на Руськую землю воеватъ. Всеволодъ же изыиде противу имъ мѣсяца февраля въ 2 день, и бившимъся имъ, побѣдиша Всеволода и, воевавше отъидоша. Се бысть первое зло на Руськую землю от поганыхъ безбожныхъ врагъ. Бысть же князь ихъ Сокалъ.
В лѣто 6570.
В лѣто 6571. Преставися Судиславъ, братъ Ярославль, и погребоша ̀и во церкви святаго Георгия. Того же лѣта в Новѣгородѣ иде Волхово вьспять дний 5. Се же знамение недобро бысть: на 4-е лѣто погорѣ весь городъ.
В лѣто 6572. Бѣжа Ростиславъ кь Тмутороканю, сынъ Володимирь, внукъ Ярославль, и с нимъ бѣжа Порѣй и Вышата, сынь Остромирь, воеводы новгородьского. И, пришедъ, выгна Глѣба изь Тмуторокана, а самъ сѣде в него мѣсто.
В лѣто 6573. Иде Святославъ на Ростислава кь Тмутороканю. Ростиславъ же отступи прочь из града, не убоявься его, не не хотя противу строеви своему оружья взяти. Святослав же, пришедъ кь Тмутороканю, посади сына своего пакы Глѣба и вьзвратися вьсвояси. Пришедъ пакы опять Ростиславъ и выгна Глѣба, и приде Глѣбъ кь отцю своему, Ростиславъ же, пришедъ, сѣде въ Тмутороканѣ. В то же лѣто Всеславъ […] рать почалъ.
В та же времена бысть знамение на западѣ: звѣзда превелика, лучѣ имущи акы кровавѣ, вьсходящи с вечера по заходѣ солънечнемь, и бысть за 7 дний. Се же проявляющи не на добро. По сем же быша усобицѣ многы и нашествие поганыхъ на Руськую землю, си бо звѣзда, акы кровава, проявьляющи крови пролитье. В та же времена бысть дѣтище вьвержено въ Сѣтомле. Сего же дѣтища выволокоша рыболовѣ в неводѣ, его же позоровахомъ и до вечера, и пакы вывѣргоша и́ въ воду. Бяше бо на лицѣ его сице срамнии удове, а иного нѣльзѣ казати срама ради. Пред сим же временемь солнце прѣменися, не бысть свѣтло, но акы мѣсяць бысть. Его же невегласии глаголють снѣдаему сущю.
Се же бывають сия знамения не на добро, мы бо по сему разумѣхом. Якоже древле, при Антиосѣ, въ Ерусалимѣ ключися внезапу по всему граду за 40 дний являтися на вьздусѣ на конихъ рищющимъ, въ оружьи, златыя одежа имущи, и полкы обоямо являемы, и оружью движащюся. Се же являше нахожение Антиохово, нашествие рати на Ерусалимъ. По сем же при Неронѣ цесарѣ в том же Ерусалимѣ въсия звѣзда въ образъ копийный надъ городомъ: се же проявляше нахожение рати от римлянъ. И пакы сице бысть при Устиянѣ цесарѣ, звѣзда вьсия на западѣ, испущающи луча, юже прозываху блисталницю. И бысть сияющи за 20 дний. По сем же бысть звѣздамъ течение с вечера до утрия, яко мнѣти всимъ, яко падають звѣзды. И пакы солнце без лучь сияше. Се же проявляше крамолы, недузи, человѣкомъ умертвие бяше.
Пакы же при Маврикии цесари бысть се: жена дѣтище роди безъ очью, безъ руку, въ чресла бѣ ему рыбьий хвостъ прирослъ. И песъ родися шестоногъ. Въ Африкии же 2 дѣтища родистася, единъ о 4 ногах, а другий о двое главу. По сем же бысть при Костянтинѣ иконоборци, сына Леонова: течение звѣздьное бысть на небесѣх, оттергаху бо ся на землю, и яко видящимъ мнѣти кончину. Тогда же вьздух вьзлияся повелику. В Сурии же бысть трусъ велий, землѣ расѣдшися трий поприщь, изииде дивно изь земли мьска, человѣцскымъ гласомъ глаголющи, проповѣдающи наитье языка, еже и бысть: наидоша бо срацини на Палестинскую землю.
Знаменья бо въ небеси, или въ звѣздах, или въ солнци, или птицами, или етеромъ чимъ не благо бывають, но знамения сица на зло бывають, или проявление рати, или гладу, или на смерть проявьляеть.
В лѣто 6574. Ростиславу сѣдящу въ Тмуторокани и емлющи дань у касогъ и в ыных странахъ, сего же убоявъ же ся грѣци, послаша с лестью котопана. Оному же пришедшю кь Ростиславу и увѣрившюся ему, и чьтяше ̀и Ростиславъ. Единою же пьющу Ростиславу с дружиною своею, рече котопанъ: «Княже! Хощю на тя пити». Оному же рекшу: «Пий». Онъ же, испивъ половину чаши, а половину вдасть князю пити, дотиснувься палцемь в чашю, бѣ бо имѣя подъ ногътемь растворение смертьное, и дасть князю, урекъ смерть до осми дний. Оному же испившю, котопанъ же, пришедъ Кьрсуню, повѣда, яко в сий день умреть Ростиславъ, якоже и бысть. Сего же котопана побиша камениемь людье корсуньстии. Бѣ же Ростиславъ мужь добръ на рать, вьзрастом же лѣпъ и красенъ лицемь, милостивъ убогимъ. Умре же мѣсяца февраля въ третий день, и тако положенъ бысть въ церкви святыя Богородица.
В лѣто 6575. Заратися Всеславъ, сынъ Брячьславль, Полотьский, и зая Новъгородъ. Ярославичи же трие — Изяславъ, Святославъ, Всеволодъ, — совокупивше воя, идоша на Всеслава, зимѣ сущи велицѣ. И придоша кь Мѣньску, и мѣнянѣ затворишася въ градѣ. Си же братья взяша Мѣнескъ, исьсѣкоша мужи, а жены и дѣти взяша на щиты, и поидоша кь Немизѣ, и Всеславъ поиде противу. И совокупившеся обои на Немизѣ, мѣсяца марта въ 3 день. И бяше снѣгъ великъ. И поидоша противу собѣ, и бысть сѣча зла, падоша мнозѣ, и одолѣ Изяславъ, Святославъ, Всеволодъ, а Всеславъ бѣжа. По сем же, мѣсяца иуня въ 10 день, Изяславъ, Святославъ и Всеволодъ целовавше крестъ честный кь Всеславу, рекше: «Приди к нама, а не створим ти зла». Он же, надѣяся цѣлованию креста, переѣха в лодьи чресъ Днѣпръ. Изяславу же в шатеръ предъидущю. И тако яша Всеслава на Рши у Смоленьска, преступивше крестъ. Изяславъ же приведе Всеслава Кыеву, и вьсадиша ̀и в порубъ съ двѣима сынома.
Musean translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the Old East Slavic text of the Hypatian Codex (O. V. Tvorogov’s 1997 edition, pinned Russian Wikisource revision), covering the undated introduction and every annal from 6360 to 6625 (852–1117 CE). Worker drafts were checked against the source paragraph by paragraph before publication. Years keep the chronicle’s own reckoning from the creation of the world; subtract 5508 for the approximate year CE, as the chapter titles do.
In the year 6567. Iziaslav, and Sviatoslav, and Vsevolod brought their uncle Sudislav out of the dungeon, where he had sat 24 years, and made him swear upon the cross, and he became a monk.
In the year 6568. Igor, the son of Yaroslav, died. In the same year Iziaslav, and Sviatoslav, and Vsevolod, and Vseslav, having gathered troops beyond number, marched forth on horseback and in boats, a countless host, against the Torks. And the Torks, hearing of it, were afraid, and have fled even to this day, and they died in their flight, driven by the wrath of God: some by the cold, and others by famine, and others by pestilence and the judgment of God. And thus God delivered the Christians from the pagans.
In the year 6569. The Cumans came for the first time to make war upon the land of Rus'. And Vsevolod came out against them in the month of February, on the 2nd day; and when they had fought, they defeated Vsevolod, and, having ravaged, went their way. This was the first evil that came upon the land of Rus' from the pagan, godless enemies. And their prince was Sokal.
In the year 6570.
In the year 6571. Sudislav, the brother of Yaroslav, died, and they buried him in the church of St. George. In that year the Volkhov at Novgorod flowed backward for 5 days. And this was a sign of no good: in the 4th year the whole city burned.
In the year 6572. Rostislav, the son of Vladimir, grandson of Yaroslav, fled to Tmutorokan, and with him fled Porei and Vyshata, the son of Ostromir, governor of Novgorod. And, coming there, he drove Gleb out of Tmutorokan, and sat in his place.
In the year 6573. Sviatoslav went against Rostislav, to Tmutorokan. And Rostislav withdrew from the city, not because he feared him, but because he had no wish to take up arms against his uncle. And Sviatoslav came to Tmutorokan, and set his son Gleb there again, and turned back to his own. And Rostislav came again and drove out Gleb, and Gleb came to his father; and Rostislav came and sat in Tmutorokan. In that year Vseslav […] began the war.
In those times there was a sign in the west: a star, very great, having rays as it were of blood, rising in the evening after the going down of the sun, and it was seen for 7 days. And this showed forth no good. After this there came many feuds among kin, and the invasion of the pagans upon the land of Rus', for that star, as it were bloody, showed forth the shedding of blood. In those times a child was cast up in the Setoml: fishermen drew it out of the water in a net, and we gazed upon it until evening, and then it was cast back into the water. For it had upon its face shameful members such as these, and the rest cannot be shown for very shame. And before this time the sun was changed, and gave no clear light, but was as the moon. And the ignorant say it was being devoured.
Such signs as these do not come for good, as we ourselves have learned since. For of old, under Antiochus, it befell in Jerusalem that suddenly, through the whole city for 40 days, there were seen in the air riders coursing upon horses, in armor, clothed in raiment of gold, and hosts appearing on either side, and weapons in motion. And this showed forth the coming of Antiochus, the descent of a host upon Jerusalem. After this, under the emperor Nero, in that same Jerusalem a star flashed out above the city in the form of a spear: and this showed forth the descent of a host from the Romans. And again the like befell under the emperor Justinian: a star shone out in the west, casting forth a ray which men called the blazing beam, and it shone for 20 days. After this the stars ran their course from evening until morning, so that all men thought the stars were falling; and again the sun shone without rays. And this showed forth strife, and sicknesses, and death among men.
And again, under the emperor Maurice, this came to pass: a woman bore a child without eyes, without hands, and at its loins a fish's tail had grown fast to it. And a dog was born with six legs. In Africa 2 children were born, one with 4 legs, and the other with 2 heads. After this, under Constantine the Iconoclast, son of Leo, there was a streaming of stars in the heavens, for they tore themselves away toward the earth, so that those who saw it thought the end was come. And then the air was corrupted everywhere. In Syria there was a great earthquake, the earth splitting open for 3 versts, and out of the earth came forth a marvel, a creature speaking with a human voice and proclaiming the coming of an alien tongue; and so it came to pass, for the Saracens fell upon the land of Palestine.
For signs in the heavens, whether in the stars, or in the sun, or by birds, or by anything else whatever, do not come for good: such signs as these come for evil, showing forth a host, or famine, or portending death.
In the year 6574. While Rostislav sat in Tmutorokan, taking tribute from the Kasogians and from other lands, the Greeks, fearing him, sent against him a katapan with guile. And he came to Rostislav and won his confidence, and Rostislav held him in honor. And once, when Rostislav was drinking with his retinue, the katapan said: “Prince! I wish to drink to you.” And he said: “Drink.” And he drank half the cup, and gave the other half to the prince to drink, having pressed his finger into the cup, for he bore beneath his nail a deadly poison; and he handed death to the prince, appointing it within 8 days. And when he had drunk it, the katapan went to Korsun and gave out that Rostislav would die on that day, and so it came to pass. And the people of Korsun stoned this katapan to death. Rostislav was a man good in battle, well-grown, and fair of face, and merciful to the poor. He died in the month of February, on the 3rd day, and so he was laid in the church of the Holy Mother of God.
In the year 6575. Vseslav, the son of Briachislav, of Polotsk, broke out in war, and seized Novgorod. And the three sons of Yaroslav—Iziaslav, and Sviatoslav, and Vsevolod—gathered troops and marched against Vseslav, in the depth of winter. And they came to Minsk, and the men of Minsk shut themselves in the city. And the brothers took Minsk, and cut down the men, and carried off the women and the children on their shields, and marched to the Nemiza, and Vseslav marched to meet them. And the two hosts met upon the Nemiza, in the month of March, on the 3rd day; and there was deep snow. And they moved against one another, and the slaughter was grievous, and many fell, and Iziaslav, and Sviatoslav, and Vsevolod prevailed, and Vseslav fled. After this, in the month of June, on the 10th day, Iziaslav, and Sviatoslav, and Vsevolod swore to Vseslav upon the precious cross, saying: “Come to us; we will do you no harm.” And he, trusting in the oath upon the cross, crossed the Dnieper in a boat, Iziaslav going on before into the tent. And so they seized Vseslav on the Rsha, near Smolensk, having forsworn the cross. And Iziaslav brought Vseslav to Kyiv, and they cast him into the dungeon with his 2 sons.
Plain English translation
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from the same Old East Slavic text of the Hypatian Codex, paragraph for paragraph, and checked against the source before publication.
In the year 6567. Iziaslav, and Sviatoslav, and Vsevolod brought their uncle Sudislav out of the prison, where he had sat 24 years, and made him swear an oath on the cross, and he became a monk.
In the year 6568. Igor, Yaroslav's son, died. In that same year Iziaslav, and Sviatoslav, and Vsevolod, and Vseslav gathered troops past counting and set out, on horseback and in boats, a countless host, against the Torks. When the Torks heard of this, they were afraid and fled, and are fleeing to this day, and they died as they fled, driven by the wrath of God — some from the cold, and others from hunger, and others from plague and the judgment of God. And so God saved the Christians from the pagans.
In the year 6569. The Cumans came for the first time to raid the Rus' land. Vsevolod went out against them on the 2nd day of February; they fought, defeated Vsevolod, and went away after their raiding. This was the first evil to the Rus' land from the pagan godless enemies. Their prince was Sokal.
In the year 6570.
In the year 6571. Sudislav, Yaroslav's brother, died, and they buried him in the church of St. George. In that year in Novgorod the Volkhov flowed backward for 5 days. This was a bad omen: in the 4th year the whole town burned down.
In the year 6572. Rostislav fled to Tmutorokan, son of Vladimir, grandson of Yaroslav; with him fled Porei and Vyshata, son of Ostromir, the commander of Novgorod. He came and drove Gleb out of Tmutorokan, and sat in his place himself.
In the year 6573. Sviatoslav went against Rostislav to Tmutorokan. Rostislav withdrew out of the town, not from fear of him, but because he did not want to take up arms against his own uncle. Sviatoslav came to Tmutorokan, set his son Gleb there again, and returned home. Rostislav came again and drove Gleb out, and Gleb went to his father, and Rostislav came and sat in Tmutorokan. In that same year Vseslav […] began a war.
At that time there was an omen in the west: a very great star with rays like blood, rising in the evening after the setting of the sun; it went on for 7 days. This showed that no good would come. After this came many civil wars, and the invasion of the pagans into the Rus' land; for this star, like blood, foretold the shedding of blood. At that time a child was thrown into the Setoml. Fishermen dragged this child out in a net; we gazed at it until evening, and then threw it back into the water. On its face were limbs of this kind, shameful to see, and the rest cannot be shown for shame. Before that time the sun had changed: it was not bright, but as if it were the moon. The ignorant say that it was being eaten.
These omens happen for no good; we learned this afterward. As of old, in the days of Antiochus, it happened in Jerusalem that suddenly, all through the town, for 40 days there appeared in the air horsemen racing about, in armor, clothed in gold, with companies seen on both sides, and weapons moving. This foretold the attack of Antiochus, the coming of an army on Jerusalem. After that, under the emperor Nero, in that same Jerusalem a star shone above the town in the shape of a spear: this foretold the attack of the army of the Romans. And again the same thing happened under the emperor Justinian: a star shone in the west, shooting out a ray, which they called a blistanitsa; and it shone for 20 days. After that the stars ran from evening till morning, so that everyone thought the stars were falling. And again the sun shone without rays. This foretold strife, and sickness; there was death among men.
Again, under the emperor Maurice, this happened: a woman gave birth to a child without eyes and without arms, and at its loins a fish's tail had grown onto it. And a dog was born with six legs. In Africa two children were born: one with four legs, and the other with two heads. After that, under Constantine the Iconoclast, son of Leo, there was a running of stars in the heavens; they tore loose toward the earth, so that those who saw it thought it was the end. Then the air was greatly disturbed. In Syria there was a great earthquake: the earth split for a length of three versts, and something marvelous came up out of the earth, speaking with a human voice and foretelling the coming of a foreign tongue; and so it happened: the Saracens attacked the land of Palestine.
Omens in the sky, or in the stars, or in the sun, or by birds, or by anything else, do not come for good; such omens come for evil — they foretell either an army, or famine, or death.
In the year 6574. While Rostislav sat in Tmutorokan and took tribute from the Kasogians and from other lands, the Greeks feared this and sent a katapan with deceit. He came to Rostislav and won his trust, and Rostislav honored him. Once, when Rostislav was drinking with his retinue, the katapan said: “Prince! I want to drink to you.” Rostislav said: “Drink.” He drank half the cup and gave the other half to the prince to drink, having pressed his finger into the cup — he had the poison of death under his nail — and gave it to the prince, condemning him to die within 8 days. When the prince had drunk, the katapan came to Korsun and announced that Rostislav would die on that very day, and so it came to pass. The people of Korsun stoned that katapan to death. Rostislav was a man good in war, of fine height and fair face, merciful to the poor. He died on the 3rd day of February, and so he was laid in the church of the Holy Mother of God.
In the year 6575. Vseslav, son of Briachislav of Polotsk, broke out in war and seized Novgorod. The three Yaroslavichi — Iziaslav, Sviatoslav, and Vsevolod — gathered troops and went against Vseslav in the depth of winter. They came to Minsk, and the people of Minsk shut themselves in the town. The brothers took Minsk, cut down the men, carried the women and children off captive, and moved on to the Nemiza, and Vseslav came out against them. The two sides met on the Nemiza on the 3rd day of March. There was deep snow. They advanced against each other, and there was a fierce battle; many fell; Iziaslav, Sviatoslav, and Vsevolod won, and Vseslav fled. After that, on the 10th day of June, Iziaslav, Sviatoslav, and Vsevolod swore the honored cross to Vseslav, saying: “Come to us, and we will do you no harm.” He, trusting in the oath on the cross, crossed the Dnieper in boats, Iziaslav going on ahead of him into the tent. And so they seized Vseslav on the Rsha near Smolensk, having broken the oath on the cross. Iziaslav brought Vseslav to Kyiv and put him in the prison with his two sons.