Attributed to Nestor the Chronicler · Complete work
1075–1085: The Caves Church and the Wars of Yaroslav's Sons
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В лѣто 6583. Почата бысть церкви печерьская надъ основаньемь Стефаномъ игуменомь, изъ основанья бо Федосий поча, а на основаньи Стефанъ поча; и кончана бысть на третьее лѣто мѣсяца июля въ 1 день.
В се же лѣто придоша послѣ из немець къ Святославу. Святослав же, величашеся, показа имъ богатьство свое. Они же, видивьше бесщисленое множество злата, и сребра и паволок, рѣша: «Се ни во что же есть, се бо лежить мертво. Сего суть кметье лучьше. Мужи бо доищуться и болша сего». Сице ся похвали Езекий, царь июдѣйский, к послом царя асурийска, егоже вся взята быша въ Вавилонъ. Тако и по сего смерти все имѣнье расъсыпашася раздьно.
В лѣто 6584. Ходи Володимеръ, сынъ Всеволожь, и Олегъ Святъславль ляхомь в помочь на чехы. В се же лѣто преставися Святославъ, сынъ Ярославль, мѣсяца декабря въ 27, от рѣзанья желве, и положенъ бысть у Спаса. И сѣде по немь Усеволодь на столѣ мѣсяца генваря въ 1 день. В се же лѣто родися у Володимера сынъ Мьстиславъ, внук Всеволож.
В лѣто 6585. Поиде Изяславъ с ляхы, Всеволод же поиде противу ему. И бывшу Всеволоду... Сѣде Борисъ в Черниговѣ мѣсяца мая 4 день, и бысть княженья его дний 8, и бѣжа Тмутороканю к Романовѣ. Всеволодъ же взыиде противу брату Изяславу на Волынь и створи миръ, и, пришед, Изяславъ сѣде в Киевѣ мѣсяца июля 15 день, Олегъ же, Святославль сынъ, бѣ у Всеволода в Чернѣговѣ.
В лѣто 6586. Бѣжа Олегъ, сынъ Святославль, Тмутороканю от Всеволода мѣсяца априля въ 10 день. В се же лѣто убьенъ бысть Глѣбъ, Святославль сынъ, в Заволочьи. Бѣ же Глѣбъ милостивъ на убогия и страньнолюбивъ, тщанье имѣя къ церквамъ, теплъ на вѣру и кротокъ, взоромъ красенъ. Его же тѣло положено бысть в Черниговѣ за Спасомь мѣсяца июля 23 день. Сѣдящу в него мѣсто Святополку в Новѣгородѣ, сыну Изяславлю, Ярополку сѣдящю Вышегородѣ, а Володимеру сѣдящю у Смоленьскѣ, приведе Олегъ и Борисъ поганыя на Рускую землю и поидоста на Всеволода с половцѣ. Всеволодъ же изоиде противу има на Съжици, и побидиша половцѣ русь, и мнози убьени быша ту: убьенъ бысть ту Иванъ Жирославичь, и Тукы, Чюдинь братъ. Порѣй и ини мнози мѣсяца августа 25 день.
Олегь же и Борисъ придоста Чернигову, мьняще одолѣвше, а земли Руской много зла створившим, прольяше кровь хрестьяньску, еяже кровь взыщеть Богъ от руку ея, отвѣтъ дати за погиблыя душа хрестьяньскѣ. Всеволодъ же приде къ брату своему Изяславу Кыеву, и цѣловавшася, сѣдоста. Всеволодъ же исповѣда ему все бывшее. И рече ему Изяславъ: «Брате! Не тужи. Видиши бо, колко ся мнѣ сключи зла: первое бо, не выгнаша ли мене и имѣнье мое разграбиша? И паки, кую вину створилъ есмь? Не изгнаста ли вы, мене, брата своя, и не блудих ли по чюжимъ землямъ, имѣнья лишенъ быхъ, не створи зла ничтоже? И нынѣ, брате, не туживѣ. Аще будеть нама причастъе в Руской землѣ, то обѣма, аще лишена будевѣ, то оба. Язъ сложю главу свою за тя». И се рекъ, утѣши Всеволода и повелѣ збирати воя от мала до велика. И поиде Изяславъ сь Ярополкомь, сыномь своимь, и Всеволодъ с Володимером, сыномь своимь.
И поидоша к Чернигову, и черниговцѣ затворишася у градѣ. Олегь же и Борисъ не бяшета в Черниговѣ. Чернѣговцемь же не отворящимся, приступиша ко граду. Володимеръ же приступиша къ вратом въсточнымъ, от Стръжене, и отя врата, и взяша градъ околний, и пожгоша огнемь, людемъ выбѣгшимъ во днешний город. Изяслав же и Всеволодъ слышаста, яко иде Олегъ и Борисъ противу, Изяслав же и Всеволодъ урянився, поидоста от града противу Олговѣ. И рече Олегъ к Борисовѣ: «Не ходиви противу, не можевѣ стати противу чотырем княземь, но пошливѣ с молбою къ строема своима». И рече ему Борисъ: «Ты зри готова, язъ имъ противен всимъ». И похвалився велми, не вѣды яко Богъ гордымъ противится, смѣреным же благодать даеть, и да не похвалится силны силою своею. И поидоста противу, и бывшимъ им на мѣсьтѣ на Нѣжатини нивѣ, и совокупившимъся обоимъ, бысть сѣча зла. И пѣрвое убиша Бориса, сына Вячеславля, похвалившаго велми.
Изяславу, стоящю в пѣшцехъ, унезапу приѣхавъ один, удари копьемь за плеча. И тако убьенъ бысть Изяславь, сынъ Ярославль. Предолженѣ же бывшѣ сѣчѣ, побѣже Олегь в малѣ дружини, едва втече и бѣжа Тмютороканю.
Убьенъ бысть князь Изяславъ мѣсяца октября въ 3 день. Вземше же тѣло его, привезоша в лодьи, и поставиша противу Городчю, и изидоша противу ему всь городъ Киевъ, и възложиша на санѣ, повезоша ̀и с пѣсньми попове и черноризци, и понесоша въ градъ. И не бѣ лзѣ слышати пѣнья въ плачѣ велицѣ и воплѣ, плакася о немь весь городъ Киевъ. Ярополкъ же идяше по немь, плачася съ дружиною своею: «Отче, отче мой! Что еси бес печали пожил на свѣтѣ семь, многи напасти приемь от людѣй и от братья своея? се же погибе не от брата, но за брата своего положи главу свою». И, принесъше, положиша тѣло его въ церквѣ святыя Богородица, уложиша ̀и в раку камяну и мраморяну. Бѣ же Изяславъ мужь взоромъ красенъ, тѣломъ великь, незлобивъ нравомь, кривды ненавидя, любя правду. Клюкъ же в немь не бѣ, ни льсти, но простъ умомъ, не воздая зла за зло. Колко бо ему створиша киянѣ: самого выгнаша, а домъ его разграбиша, и не възда противу тому зла.
Аще ли кто дѣеть: киянѣ исѣклъ, которѣи же высадили Всеслава ис поруба, то сь того не створѣ, но сынъ его. Паки же брата своя выгнаста ̀и, и ходи по чюжей землѣ, блудя. И сѣдящу ему паки на своемь столѣ, Всеволоду пришедшю побѣжену к нему, не рече ему: «Колко подьяхъ от ваю». Не вдасть зла на зло, но утѣши и рекъ ему: «Елма же ты, брате мой, показа ко мнѣ любовь, уведе мя на столъ мой, нарекъ мя старѣйши себе, се азъ не помяну злобы первоѣ, ты мнѣ еси братъ, а я тобѣ, и положю главу свою за тя», еже и бысть. Не рече бо ему: «Колко зло створиста мнѣ, и се нынѣ тобѣ ся приключи», не рече: «Сего кромѣ мене», но на ся перея печаль братню, показа любовь велику, свершая апостола, глаголюща: «Утѣшайте печалныя». По истинѣ, аще что створилъ есть на свѣтѣ семь, етеро согрѣшенье, отдасться ему, зане положи главу свою за брата своего, ни желая болшая части, ни имѣнья хотя болшаго, но за братню обиду.
О сяковыхъ бо и Господь рече: «Да кто положить душю свою за други своя». Соломонъ же рече: «Братье, в бѣдахъ пособиви бывайте». Любовь бо есть выше всего. Яко же Иоан глаголеть: «Богъ любы есть, и пребывая у любви, у Бози пребываеть, и Богъ в немь пребываеть». О семь свершаеться любы, да достоянье имамъ въ день Судный, да якоже онъ есть, и мы есмы в мирѣ семь. Боязни нѣсть в любви, но свершена любы вонъ измѣщеть боязнь, яко боязнь мученье имать. «Бояй же ся нѣсть свершенъ у любви. Аще кто речеть: Бога люблю, а брата своего ненавидя — ложь есть. Не любяй брата своего, егоже видить, Бога, егоже не видить, како можеть любити? Сию заповѣдь има от него, да любяй Бога любить и брата своего». У любви бо все свершаеться. Любви бо ради грѣси расыпаються. Любви бо ради и Господь сниде на землю и распятся за ны грѣшныя и вземь грѣхи наша, пригвоздѣ на крестѣ, давъ намъ крестъ свой на помочь и на прогнанье бѣсомь. Любви ради мученици прольяша кровь свою.
Любве же ради и сий князь пролья кровь свою за брата своего, свершая заповѣдь Господню.
Начало княженья Всеволожа в Киеви. Всеволодъ же сѣде Киевѣ на столѣ отца своего и брата своего, переемь всю власть рускую. И посади сына своего Володимера в Черниговѣ, а Ярополка — Володимерѣ, придавъ ему Туровъ.
В лѣто 6587. Приде Романъ с половцѣ к Воиню. Всеволод же став у Переяславля и створи миръ с половцѣ. И възратися Романъ въспять, и бывшу ему... убиша ̀и половцѣ мѣсяца августа 2 день. И суть кости его и до сего лѣта тамо лежаче, сына Святославля и внука Ярославля. А Олга емше козарѣ, поточиша за море Царюгороду. Всеволодъ же посади посадника Ратибора Тмутороканю.
В лѣто 6588. Заратишася торци переяславьстии на Русь. Всеволод же посла на нѣ сына своего Володимера. Володимер же, шедъ, побил торки.
В лѣто 6589. Бѣжа Игоревич Давыдъ с Володаремь Ростиславличем мѣсяца мая въ 18 день. И придоста Тмутороканю, и яста Ратибора, и сѣдоста Тмутороканю.
В лѣто 6590. Осѣнь умре половѣцький князь.
В лѣто 6591. Приде Олегъ изъ Грек Тмутороканю; и я Давыда и Володаря Ростиславича и сѣде Тмуторокани. И исѣче козары, иже бѣша свѣтници на убьенье брата его и на самого, а Давыда и Володаря пусти.
В лѣто 6592. Приходи Ярополкъ ко Всеволоду на Великъ день. В се же время вбѣгоста Ростиславича два от Ярополка и, пришедша, прогнаста Ярополка, и посла Всеволодъ сына своего Володимера, и выгна Ростиславича и посади Ярополка Володимерѣ. В се же лѣто Давыдъ зая грѣчнѣки во Олешьи и зая в них все имѣнье. Всеволодъ же, пославъ, приведе ̀и и вдасть ему Дорогобужь.
В лѣто 6593. Ярополку хотящю на Всеволода, послушавшю ему злых свѣтникъ. Се увѣдавъ, Всеволодъ посла противу ему сына своего Володимера, а Ярополкъ же, оставивъ матерь свою и дружину свою в Лучьскѣ, а самъ бѣжа в Ляхи. Володимеру же пришедшю к Лучску, дашася лучане. Володимеру же посадившю Давыда въ Володимерѣ, у Ярополка мѣсто, а матерь Ярополчю и жену его и дружину его приведе Киеву, имѣнье его вземь.
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 6583. The church of the Caves was begun, raised upon its foundations by Abbot Stephen: for Theodosius had begun it from the foundation, and upon that foundation Stephen began to build; and it was finished in the third year, on the first day of the month of July.
In the same year envoys came from the Germans to Sviatoslav. And Sviatoslav, boasting, displayed to them his wealth. And they, beholding the countless store of gold and silver and silks, said: “This is nothing at all: it lies dead. Warriors are better than this; for men may win more than this.” So did Hezekiah, king of Judah, boast before the envoys of the king of Assyria, and all that he had was carried away into Babylon. And so likewise, after his death, all his riches were scattered asunder.
In the year 6584. Vladimir, son of Vsevolod, and Oleg, son of Sviatoslav, went to the aid of the Poles against the Czechs. In the same year Sviatoslav, son of Yaroslav, died on the twenty-seventh day of the month of December, from the cutting of a tumor, and was laid to rest at the Savior. And Vsevolod sat upon his throne after him on the first day of the month of January. In the same year a son, Mstislav, was born to Vladimir, Vsevolod's grandson.
In the year 6585. Iziaslav set out with the Poles, and Vsevolod marched against him. And when Vsevolod had… Boris sat in Chernihiv on the fourth day of the month of May, and his reign lasted eight days, and he fled to Tmutorokan, to Roman. And Vsevolod went up against his brother Iziaslav into Volhynia, and they made peace; and Iziaslav came and sat in Kyiv on the fifteenth day of the month of July, while Oleg, son of Sviatoslav, was with Vsevolod in Chernihiv.
In the year 6586. Oleg, son of Sviatoslav, fled from Vsevolod to Tmutorokan on the tenth day of the month of April. In the same year Gleb, son of Sviatoslav, was slain in Zavolochie. Gleb was merciful to the poor and a lover of strangers, zealous for the churches, fervent in the faith and gentle, and fair of countenance. His body was laid to rest in Chernihiv, behind the Savior, on the twenty-third day of the month of July. While Sviatopolk, son of Iziaslav, sat in his place in Novgorod, and Yaropolk sat in Vyshhorod, and Vladimir sat at Smolensk, Oleg and Boris led the pagans against the land of Rus', and the two marched with the Cumans against Vsevolod. And Vsevolod went out against them to the Sozhitsa, and the Cumans defeated the Rus', and many were slain there: Ivan Zhiroslavich was slain there, and Tuky, Chudin's brother, and Porei and many others besides, on the twenty-fifth day of the month of August.
And Oleg and Boris came to Chernihiv, deeming themselves victorious, having wrought great evil in the land of Rus' and shed Christian blood — blood for which God will demand satisfaction at their hands, an accounting for the Christian souls that perished. And Vsevolod came to his brother Iziaslav at Kyiv, and they kissed one another and sat together. And Vsevolod told him all that had come to pass. And Iziaslav said to him: “Brother, do not grieve. You see how much evil has befallen me: first, did they not drive me out and plunder all my goods? And again, what wrong had I done them? Did you two not drive me out, your brother, so that I wandered in foreign lands, stripped of my possessions, and did no wrong to any man? And now, brother, let us not grieve. If it be given us to have a share in the land of Rus', then to both of us; if we are left without it, then to both alike. I will lay down my head for you.” And having said this, he comforted Vsevolod, and commanded that troops be gathered, small and great. And Iziaslav set out with Yaropolk his son, and Vsevolod with Vladimir his son.
And they marched on Chernihiv, and the men of Chernihiv shut themselves within the town; but Oleg and Boris were not in Chernihiv. And because the men of Chernihiv would not open their gates, they assailed the town. Vladimir attacked the eastern gates, from the Strizhen, and seized the gates, and they took the outer town and burned it with fire, the people fleeing into the inner city. And Iziaslav and Vsevolod heard that Oleg and Boris were coming against them; and they arrayed themselves for battle and went out from the city against Oleg. And Oleg said to Boris: “Let us not go against them: we two cannot stand against four princes; let us rather send a petition to our uncles.” And Boris said to him: “Watch me: I am ready to stand against them all.” And he boasted greatly, not knowing that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble, and that the mighty must not boast in their might. And the two went out to meet them; and when they came upon the field of Nezhatina Niva and the two hosts joined, there was a fierce slaughter. First was slain Boris, son of Viacheslav, who had boasted greatly.
And while Iziaslav stood among the foot soldiers, a horseman came upon him suddenly, alone, and struck him with a spear beneath the shoulder. And so Iziaslav, son of Yaroslav, was slain. And as the battle still raged, Oleg fled with a small band of his retinue, barely escaping, and fled to Tmutorokan.
Prince Iziaslav was slain on the third day of the month of October. They took up his body and brought it by boat, and set it ashore opposite Gorodets, and all the city of Kyiv came out to meet it, and they laid it upon a bier; and priests and monks conveyed it with hymns, and carried it into the city. And no hymn could be heard for the greatness of the weeping and wailing: all the city of Kyiv wept for him. And Yaropolk went behind, weeping with his retinue: “Father, O my father! How little of your life in this world was without sorrow, receiving many afflictions from men and from your own brothers; and now you have perished — not at a brother's hand, but for your brother you laid down your head.” And when they had brought him in, they laid his body in the church of the holy Mother of God, placing it in a coffin of stone and marble. Iziaslav was a man fair of countenance and great of body, of a guileless disposition, hating unrighteousness and loving truth. There was no crookedness in him, nor deceit; he was simple of mind, rendering no evil for evil. Consider what the men of Kyiv had done to him: they drove him out himself and plundered his house, and he repaid no evil for it.
But if anyone should say: “The men of Kyiv were cut down — the very men who had freed Vseslav from his prison” — that deed was not his, but his son's. And again his brothers drove him out, and he went wandering in a foreign land. And when he sat again upon his own throne, and Vsevolod came to him defeated, he did not say to him: “How much I endured at your hands.” He returned no evil for evil, but comforted him and said: “Inasmuch as you, my brother, showed love toward me, and brought me back to my throne, naming me elder than yourself — behold, I will not remember the former wrong: you are my brother, and I am yours, and I will lay down my head for you.” And so it came to pass. He did not say to him: “How much evil you two wrought against me, and now this has befallen you”; he did not say: “This is no concern of mine”; but he took his brother's sorrow upon himself, showing great love, and fulfilled the apostle's word: “Comfort the sorrowful.” In very truth, whatever sin he had committed in this world was remitted to him, because he laid down his head for his brother, seeking no larger portion, desiring no greater wealth, but only for his brother's wrong.
Of such men the Lord said: “that a man lay down his life for his friends.” And Solomon said: “Brethren, be of help in times of trouble.” For love is above all things. As John says: “God is love; and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” Herein is love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, for fear has torment. “He who fears is not made perfect in love. If anyone say, I love God, and hates his brother — he is a liar. He who loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God love his brother also.” For in love is all made perfect. For love's sake sins are scattered. For love's sake the Lord came down to the earth and was crucified for us sinners; and taking our sins, he nailed them to the cross, giving us his cross for our help and for the driving away of the demons. For love the martyrs shed their blood.
For love this prince also shed his blood for his brother, fulfilling the Lord's commandment.
The beginning of the reign of Vsevolod in Kyiv. And Vsevolod sat in Kyiv upon the throne of his father and of his brother, taking to himself all the dominion of Rus'. And he seated his son Vladimir in Chernihiv, and Yaropolk in Volodymyr, adding Turov to him.
In the year 6587. Roman came with the Cumans to Voin. And Vsevolod took his stand at Pereiaslav and made peace with the Cumans. And Roman turned back, and as he was… the Cumans slew him on the second day of the month of August. And his bones lie there to this very year, the bones of the son of Sviatoslav and grandson of Yaroslav. And the Khazars seized Oleg and sent him away across the sea to Constantinople. And Vsevolod set Ratibor as governor in Tmutorokan.
In the year 6588. The Torks of Pereiaslav rose in revolt against Rus'. And Vsevolod sent his son Vladimir against them. And Vladimir went and defeated the Torks.
In the year 6589. David, son of Igor, fled with Volodar, son of Rostislav, on the eighteenth day of the month of May. And they came to Tmutorokan, and seized Ratibor, and sat in Tmutorokan.
In the year 6590. In the autumn a Cuman prince died.
In the year 6591. Oleg came from Constantinople to Tmutorokan; and he seized David and Volodar, sons of Rostislav, and sat in Tmutorokan. And he cut down the Khazars who had been counselors in the murder of his brother and of himself; but David and Volodar he let go.
In the year 6592. Yaropolk came to Vsevolod for the feast of Easter. At the same time the two sons of Rostislav fled from Yaropolk and, coming, drove him out; and Vsevolod sent his son Vladimir, and he drove out the sons of Rostislav and seated Yaropolk in Volodymyr. In the same year David seized the Greek traders in Oleshie and took from them all their goods. And Vsevolod sent and brought him in, and gave him Dorogobuzh.
In the year 6593. Yaropolk, purposing to march against Vsevolod, listened to wicked counselors. Learning of this, Vsevolod sent his son Vladimir against him; and Yaropolk, leaving his mother and his retinue in Lutsk, fled himself to the Poles. And when Vladimir came to Lutsk, the men of Lutsk surrendered. And Vladimir seated David in Volodymyr in Yaropolk's place, and brought Yaropolk's mother and his wife and his retinue to Kyiv, taking all his possessions.
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 6583. The church of the Caves was begun above its foundation by the abbot Stephen. Theodosius had begun it from the foundation, and Stephen began the work on that foundation. The church was finished in the third year, on July 1.
In the same year envoys came from the Germans to Sviatoslav. Sviatoslav, wanting to boast, showed them his wealth. When they saw the countless mass of gold and silver and silks, they said: “This is nothing, for it lies dead. Warriors are better than this. Men can win even more than this.” In this way Hezekiah, king of the Jews, boasted to the envoys of the king of Assyria, and all his wealth was carried off to Babylon. So too, after his death, all his possessions were scattered to ruin.
In the year 6584. Vladimir, son of Vsevolod, and Oleg Sviatoslavich went to the aid of the Poles against the Czechs. In the same year Sviatoslav, son of Yaroslav, died on December 27 from the cutting of a tumor, and he was buried at the church of the Savior. Vsevolod then sat on his throne on January 1. In the same year a son, Mstislav, was born to Vladimir, grandson of Vsevolod.
In the year 6585. Iziaslav set out with the Poles, and Vsevolod moved against him. And while Vsevolod was … Boris sat in Chernihiv on May 4, and his reign lasted 8 days, and he fled to Tmutorokan, to Roman. Vsevolod went up against his brother Iziaslav to Volhynia and made peace, and when he came, Iziaslav sat in Kyiv on July 15, and Oleg, son of Sviatoslav, was with Vsevolod in Chernihiv.
In the year 6586. Oleg, son of Sviatoslav, fled from Vsevolod to Tmutorokan on April 10. In the same year Gleb, son of Sviatoslav, was killed in Zavolochie. Gleb was merciful to the poor and welcoming to strangers, eager for churches, ardent in faith and gentle, handsome to look at. His body was laid to rest in Chernihiv, behind the church of the Savior, on July 23. While Sviatopolk, son of Iziaslav, sat in his place in Novgorod, Yaropolk sat in Vyshhorod, and Vladimir sat in Smolensk, Oleg and Boris brought pagans against the land of Rus', and the two of them set out against Vsevolod with the Cumans. Vsevolod marched out against them to the Sozhitsa, and the Cumans defeated the Rus', and many were killed there: Ivan Zhiroslavich was killed there, and Tuky, brother of Chudin, and Porei, and many others, on August 25.
Oleg and Boris came to Chernihiv thinking they had won, having done great evil to the land of Rus' and shed Christian blood — blood that God will seek from their hand, an answer to give for the perished Christian souls. Vsevolod came to his brother Iziaslav at Kyiv; they kissed each other and sat down together. Vsevolod told him everything that had happened. And Iziaslav said to him: “Brother, do not grieve. You see how much evil has come upon me: first, did they not drive me out and plunder my property? And again, what wrong had I done? Did you two not drive me out, your own brother? And did I not wander through foreign lands, stripped of my property, though I had done no evil at all? And now, brother, do not grieve. If we two have a share in the land of Rus', it belongs to both of us; if we are deprived of it, it falls on both of us. I will lay down my head for you.” Having said this, he comforted Vsevolod and ordered the troops gathered, from the youngest to the oldest. And Iziaslav set out with his son Yaropolk, and Vsevolod with his son Vladimir.
And they marched on Chernihiv, and the people of Chernihiv shut themselves inside the town. Oleg and Boris were not in Chernihiv. Since the townspeople would not open the gates, they attacked the town. Vladimir attacked the eastern gates, by the Strizhen, and seized the gates, and they took the outer town and burned it with fire, while the people ran into the inner town. When Iziaslav and Vsevolod heard that Oleg and Boris were coming against them, they drew up in battle order and marched out of the town against Oleg. And Oleg said to Boris: “Let us not go against them; we cannot stand against four princes. Let us send a plea to our two uncles instead.” And Boris said to him: “You watch me: I am ready to face every one of them.” And he boasted greatly, not knowing that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, and that the strong must not boast in their own strength. The two of them went forward, and when they met on the spot at Nezhatina field and the two sides closed, there was fierce slaughter. First they killed Boris, son of Viacheslav, who had boasted greatly.
While Iziaslav stood among the foot soldiers, a rider suddenly rode up alone and struck him with a spear behind the shoulder. And so Iziaslav, son of Yaroslav, was killed. As the battle went on, Oleg fled with a small retinue; he barely escaped and fled to Tmutorokan.
Prince Iziaslav was killed on October 3. They took his body, brought it by boat, and set it down opposite Gorodets, and the whole city of Kyiv came out to meet it. They lifted the body onto a sledge, and the priests and monks carried it with hymns and brought it into the city. The singing could not be heard for the loud weeping and wailing; the whole city of Kyiv wept for him. Yaropolk walked behind the body, weeping with his retinue: “Father, my father! How little of your life in this world was free of sorrow, receiving many afflictions from men and from your own brothers! Now you have perished not at a brother's hand: you laid down your head for your brother.” When they had brought him in, they laid his body in the church of the Holy Mother of God, placing it in a coffin of stone and marble. Iziaslav was a man handsome in appearance, tall in body, without malice in his nature, hating wrong and loving justice. There was no deceit in him and no cunning; he was simple of mind and did not repay evil for evil. Consider how much the people of Kyiv did to him: they drove him out and plundered his house, and he did not repay that evil.
But if anyone says: he cut down the men of Kyiv, the very men who had freed Vseslav from the log prison — he did not do that; his son did. Again, his own brothers drove him out, and he wandered through foreign lands. And when he sat again on his own throne, and Vsevolod came to him in defeat, he did not say to him: “Look how much I suffered at your hands.” He did not return evil for evil; he comforted him and said: “You, my brother, showed love to me when you led me back to my throne and named me older than yourself. I will not remember the former malice: you are my brother, and I am yours, and I will lay down my head for you” — and so it happened. He did not say to him: “How much evil you two did to me, and now this has come upon you.” He did not say: “That is not my concern.” He took his brother's sorrow on himself and showed great love, fulfilling the apostle's word: “Comfort those who grieve.” Truly, whatever sin he ever committed in this world will be set aside for him, because he laid down his head for his brother, not seeking a larger share or greater wealth, but moved by the wrong done to his brother.
Of such people the Lord also said: “that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Solomon said: “Brothers, be ready to help in trouble.” Love is above all things. As John says: “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” In this love is made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear brings torment. “He who fears is not yet made perfect in love. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar. Whoever does not love his brother, whom he has seen — how can he love God, whom he has not seen? We have this commandment from him: whoever loves God must love his brother too.” In love everything is brought to fulfillment. Because of love, sins fall apart. Because of love the Lord came down to earth and was crucified for us sinners; taking our sins, he nailed them to the cross, and he gave us his cross as a help and for driving out demons. For love the martyrs shed their blood.
For love this prince also shed his own blood for his brother, fulfilling the Lord's commandment.
The beginning of Vsevolod's reign in Kyiv. Vsevolod sat in Kyiv on the throne of his father and of his brother, taking all the power of Rus' into his hands. He seated his son Vladimir in Chernihiv and Yaropolk in Volodymyr, adding Turov for him.
In the year 6587. Roman came with the Cumans to Voin. Vsevolod took his stand near Pereiaslav and made peace with the Cumans. Roman turned back, and while he was … the Cumans killed him on August 2. His bones still lie there to this very year; he was the son of Sviatoslav and grandson of Yaroslav. And the Khazars seized Oleg and banished him overseas to Constantinople. Vsevolod appointed Ratibor as his governor in Tmutorokan.
In the year 6588. The Torks of Pereiaslav rebelled against Rus'. Vsevolod sent his son Vladimir against them. Vladimir went and defeated the Torks.
In the year 6589. David Igorevich fled with Volodar Rostislavich on May 18. They came to Tmutorokan, seized Ratibor, and established themselves in Tmutorokan.
In the year 6590. In autumn a Cuman prince died.
In the year 6591. Oleg came from Constantinople to Tmutorokan; he seized David and Volodar Rostislavich and took his seat in Tmutorokan. He put to death the Khazars who had given counsel for the murder of his brother and of himself, but he let David and Volodar go free.
In the year 6592. Yaropolk came to Vsevolod for Easter. At that time the two Rostislavichi fled from Yaropolk; they came in, and then they drove Yaropolk out. Vsevolod sent his son Vladimir, who drove out the Rostislavichi and seated Yaropolk in Volodymyr. In the same year David seized Greek merchants at Oleshie and took all their goods. Vsevolod sent for him and brought him in, and gave him Dorogobuzh.
In the year 6593. Yaropolk was planning to march against Vsevolod, having listened to evil counselors. When Vsevolod learned this, he sent his son Vladimir against him. Yaropolk left his mother and his retinue in Lutsk and fled to the Poles himself. When Vladimir came to Lutsk, the people of Lutsk surrendered. Vladimir seated David in Volodymyr, in Yaropolk's place, and brought Yaropolk's mother and his wife and his retinue to Kyiv, taking his property.