Attributed to Nestor the Chronicler · Complete work
1094–1095: Oleg at Chernihiv, the Killing of Itlar, and the Locusts
1094–1095: Oleg at Chernihiv, the Killing of Itlar, and the Locusts 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 6602. Створи миръ с половцѣ Святополкъ и поя жену дщерь Тугортоканю, князя половецьскаго. Того же лѣта Олегъ приде с половцѣ ис Тмутороканя и прииде к Чернигову. Володимерь же затворися в городѣ Олегъ же прииде ко граду и пожьже около града, и манастыри пожьже. Володимеръ же створи миръ со Олгомъ и иде из города на столъ отень до Переяславля, а Олегъ вниде в городъ отца своего. Половьцѣ же начаша воевати около Чернигова, Олговѣ не возбраняющю, бѣ бо самъ повелѣлъ имъ воевати. Се уже третьее наведе Олегъ поганыя на Рускую землю, егоже грѣха дабы ̀и Богъ простилъ, понеже много хрестьянъ изъгублено бысть, а другое полонено бысть и расточено по землямъ. В се же лѣто приидоша прузи на землю Рускую мѣсяца августа въ 16 и пояша всяку траву и многа жита. И не бѣ сего слышано во днехъ первыхъ в землѣ Руской, якоже видиста очи наша за грѣхи наша. В се же лѣто преставися епископъ володимерьскѣй Стефанъ, мѣсяца априля въ 27, въ 6 час нощи, бывшу преже игумену Печерьскаго манастыря.
В лѣто 6603. Идоша половцѣ на Грекы съ Девьгеневичемь и воеваша на греки, а царь я Девьгеневича и ослѣпѣ. В се же лѣто приидоша половцѣ Итларь, Китанъ к Володимеру на миръ. И приде Итларь у городъ Переяславль, а Китанъ ста межи валома с вои. И вда Володимерь сына своего Святослава Китанови у таль, а Итларь бысть въ градѣ с лучшею дружиною. В се же веремя пришелъ Славята ис Кыева от Святополка к Володимеру на нѣкое орудье. И начаша думати дружина, Ратиборова чадь, съ княземь Володимеровъ о погубленѣ Итларевы чади. Володимеру же не хотящю сего створити, глаголющю ему: «Како могу се азъ створити, ротѣ с ними ходивъ». Отвѣщавше же дружина, рекоша Володимеру: «Княже! Нѣсть ти в томъ грѣха: привелъ ти ѣ Богъ в руцѣ твои. Чему онѣ, к тобѣ всегда ротѣ ходяще, губять землю Рускую и кровь хрестьяньску проливають беспрестани». И послуша:ихъ Володимерь.
В ту нощь посла Володимерь Славяту с нѣколкомъ дружиною и с торкы межи вала. Выкрадше первое Святослава, и потомъ убиша Китана и дружину его всю избиша. Вечеру сущю тогда суботному, а Итлареви в ту нощь лежащу на сѣнници у Ратибора и не вѣдущу ему, что ся надъ Китаномъ створи в ту нощь. Наутрѣя же в недѣлю, в завьтренѣ сущи години, пристрои же Ратиборъ отроки в оружьи, и изъбу пристави имъ затопити. И присла Володимеръ отрока своего Бяидюка по Итлареву чадь, и рече Бяидукъ ко Итлареви: «Зоветь вы князь Володимерь, реклъ тако: обувшеся в теплѣй изъбѣ и завътрокавше у Ратибора, приидѣте же ко мнѣ». И рече Итларь: «Тако буди». И яко влѣзоша во истьбу, и запроша я. И вои възлѣзше на изьдбу и прокопаша истьбу, и тако Ельбѣхъ Ратиборечь, вземъ лукъ свой и наложивъ стрѣлу, вдари Итларя подъ сердце, и дружину его всю пострѣляша.
И тако злѣ испроверже животъ свой Итларь со дружиною своею в недѣлю Сыропустную, въ 1 час дни.
Святополкъ же и Володимерь посласта к Олгови, веляча ему ити съ собою на половьцѣ. Олегъ же обѣщася ити с нима и, пошедъ, не иде с нима в путь единъ. Святополкъ же и Володимеръ идоста на вежѣ, и полониша скоты и кони, и вельблуды и челядь, и приведоста в землю свою. И начаста гнѣватися на Олга, яко не шедшю ему на поганыя с нима. И посла Святополкъ и Володимеръ ко Олгови, глаголюща сице: «Се ты не шелъ еси с нама на поганыѣ, иже погубиша землю Русьскую. А се у тебе есть Итларевичь: любо убий, любо дай нама. То есть ворогъ нама и Русьской землѣ». Олегъ же сего не послуша, и бысть межи ими ненависть.
В се же лѣто приидоша половцѣ ко Гурьгову и стояша около его лѣто все, мало не възяша его. Святополкъ же въмири я. Половцѣ же приидоша за Рось, гюргевци же выбѣгоша и приидоша къ Кыеву, Святополкъ же повелѣ рубити городъ на Вытечевьскомь холъмѣ, имя свое нарекъ — Святополчь градъ, и повелѣ епископу Марину со гурговцѣ сѣстѣ ту, и засаковцемъ, и прочимъ от нихъ, а Гюргевь зажгоша половцѣ тощь. Сего же лѣта исходяча, иде Давыдъ Святославичь из Новагорода къ Смоленьску, новгородцѣ же идоша Ростову по Мьстислава Володимерича. И поемъше и приведоша ̀и Новугороду, а Давыдови рекоша: «Не ходи к намъ». Пошедъ Давыдъ узворотися и сѣде у Смоленьскѣ опять, а Мьстиславъ сѣде у Новѣгородѣ. В се же веремя прииде Изяславъ, сынъ Володимерь, ис Курьска к Мурому. И прияша ̀и муромьцѣ, и я посадника Олгова. В се же лѣто приидоша прузѣ мѣсяца августа 28 и покрыша землю, и бѣ видѣти страшно, идяху к полунощнымъ странам, ядуще траву или проса.
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 6602. Sviatopolk made peace with the Cumans and took to wife the daughter of Tugorkan, prince of the Cumans. In that same year Oleg came with Cumans from Tmutorokan and came to Chernihiv. Vladimir shut himself in the town, and Oleg came against the town and burned round about it, and burned the monasteries. Vladimir made peace with Oleg and went out of the town to his father's throne at Pereiaslav, and Oleg entered his father's town. The Cumans began to make war round about Chernihiv, Oleg not forbidding them, for he had himself commanded them to make war. This was the third time Oleg brought the pagans against the land of Rus'—God forgive him that sin!—for many Christians were slain, and others taken captive and scattered through the lands. In that same year locusts came upon the land of Rus' on the 16th of the month of August and ate up every herb and much grain. Such a thing had never been heard of in days past in the land of Rus', as our eyes saw it, for our sins. In that same year Stephen, bishop of Volodymyr, passed away on the 27th of the month of April, at the 6th hour of the night; he had before been abbot of the Caves Monastery.
In the year 6603. The Cumans went against the Greeks with Devgenevich and made war upon the Greeks, and the emperor blinded Devgenevich. In that same year the Cumans Itlar and Kitan came to Vladimir for peace. Itlar came into the town of Pereiaslav, and Kitan took up his position between the ramparts with his troops. And Vladimir gave his son Sviatoslav to Kitan as a hostage, while Itlar was in the town with his picked retinue. At that time Slaviata came from Kyiv, sent from Sviatopolk to Vladimir, on some errand. And the retinue—Ratibor's household—began to take counsel with Prince Vladimir about destroying Itlar's company. Vladimir was unwilling to do this, saying: “How can I do this thing, having sworn oaths with them?” But the retinue answered and said to Vladimir: “Prince! You have no sin in this: God has given them into your hands. Why is it that they, though they always swear oaths to you, lay waste the land of Rus' and pour out Christian blood without cease?” And Vladimir hearkened to them.
That night Vladimir sent Slaviata with a small band of warriors and with Torks between the ramparts. First they stole Sviatoslav out, then killed Kitan and put his whole retinue to the sword. It was then Saturday evening, and Itlar lay that night in the upper chamber at Ratibor's, not knowing what had been done to Kitan in the night. On the morrow, on Sunday, in the hour before dawn, Ratibor armed his retainers and ordered the bath house heated for them. And Vladimir sent his retainer Biaiduk for Itlar's company, and Biaiduk said to Itlar: “Prince Vladimir calls you, bidding you thus: when you have put on your boots in the warm bath house and breakfasted at Ratibor's, come to me.” And Itlar said: “So be it.” And when they had gone into the bath house, they were shut in. Warriors climbed on the roof and cut through the bath house, and so Elbekh, Ratibor's man, taking his bow and setting an arrow to it, struck Itlar beneath the heart, and they shot down his whole retinue.
And so Itlar made an evil end of his life with all his retinue on Cheese-fare Sunday, at the 1st hour of the day.
Sviatopolk and Vladimir sent to Oleg, bidding him go with them against the Cumans. Oleg promised to go with them and set out, but did not go with them by the same road. Sviatopolk and Vladimir marched against the tents and carried off captive the herds and the horses, the camels and the slaves, and brought them into their own land. And they began to be angry with Oleg because he had not gone with them against the pagans. And Sviatopolk and Vladimir sent to Oleg, saying thus: “Behold, you did not go with us against the pagans who have destroyed the land of Rus'. And behold, Itlarevich is with you: either kill him, or give him to us. He is an enemy to us and to the land of Rus'.” Oleg did not heed this, and hatred arose between them.
In that same year the Cumans came against Yuriev and stood about it the whole summer, and nearly took it. Sviatopolk made peace with them. The Cumans came beyond the Ros, and the men of Yuriev fled and came to Kyiv; Sviatopolk ordered a town built on the Vytichev Hill, giving it his own name—Sviatopolk's town—and ordered Bishop Marin to settle there with the men of Yuriev, and the men of Zasakov, and the rest of them, and the Cumans burned Yuriev, leaving it empty. As that year drew to its close, David Sviatoslavich went from Novgorod to Smolensk, and the men of Novgorod went to Rostov for Mstislav, son of Vladimir. They took him and brought him to Novgorod, and said to David: “Do not come to us.” David went back and sat in Smolensk again, and Mstislav sat in Novgorod. At that time Iziaslav, son of Vladimir, came from Kursk to Murom. The men of Murom received him and seized Oleg's governor. In that same year locusts came on the 28th of the month of August and covered the land, and it was terrible to see; they went toward the northern regions, eating grass and millet.
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 6602 Sviatopolk made peace with the Cumans and took as his wife the daughter of Tugorkan, the Cuman prince. In that same year Oleg came with Cumans from Tmutorokan and came to Chernihiv. Vladimir shut himself in the town. Oleg came up to the town and burned around the town, and he burned the monasteries. Vladimir made peace with Oleg and went out of the town to his father's throne in Pereiaslav, and Oleg entered his father's town. The Cumans began to make war around Chernihiv, and Oleg did not stop them, for he had himself commanded them to make war. This was the third time that Oleg brought the pagans against the land of Rus'. May God forgive him that sin, because many Christians were destroyed, and others were taken captive and scattered through the lands. In that same year locusts came to the land of Rus' on August 16 and ate up every plant and much grain. Nothing like this had been heard of in the early days in the land of Rus'; our own eyes saw it, because of our sins. In that same year Stephen, bishop of Volodymyr, died on April 27, at the sixth hour of the night. He had earlier been abbot of the Caves Monastery.
In the year 6603 the Cumans went against the Greeks with Devgenevich and made war on the Greeks, and the emperor took Devgenevich and blinded him. In that same year the Cuman khans Itlar and Kitan came to Vladimir for peace. Itlar came into the town of Pereiaslav, and Kitan took position between the ramparts with his troops. Vladimir gave his son Sviatoslav to Kitan as a hostage, and Itlar stayed in the town with his picked retinue. At that time Slaviata came from Kyiv, from Sviatopolk, to Vladimir, on some business. Then the retinue, Ratibor's men, began to take counsel with Prince Vladimir about destroying Itlar's band. Vladimir did not want to do it, and said: “How can I do this, when I have sworn oaths with them?” The retinue answered and said to Vladimir: “Prince! There is no sin in this for you: God has given them into your hands. Why do they, though they always swear oaths to you, keep destroying the land of Rus' and pouring out Christian blood without end?” And Vladimir listened to them.
That night Vladimir sent Slaviata with some of his retinue and with Torks between the ramparts. First they stole out Sviatoslav, and then they killed Kitan and slaughtered his whole retinue. It was Saturday evening then, and that night Itlar lay in the sleeping loft at Ratibor's, not knowing what had been done to Kitan that night. The next day, on Sunday, in the early-morning hour, Ratibor armed his retainers and ordered them to heat the bathhouse. Vladimir sent his retainer Biaiduk for Itlar's band. Biaiduk said to Itlar: “Prince Vladimir is calling you. He said this: ‘Get dressed in the warm bathhouse and have your breakfast at Ratibor's, and then come to me.’” Itlar said: “So be it.” When they went into the bathhouse, they shut them in. Soldiers climbed onto the roof and dug through into the bathhouse. Then Elbekh, Ratibor's man, took his bow, fitted an arrow, and struck Itlar under the heart, and they shot down his whole retinue.
So Itlar wickedly cast away his life with his whole retinue on Cheese-fare Sunday, at the first hour of the day.
Sviatopolk and Vladimir sent to Oleg, ordering him to go with them against the Cumans. Oleg promised to go with them, but when he set out he did not go on the same road with them. Sviatopolk and Vladimir went against the tents and captured herds and horses, and camels and slaves, and brought them to their own land. Then the two began to be angry with Oleg, because he had not gone against the pagans with them. Sviatopolk and Vladimir sent to Oleg, saying this: “You did not go with us against the pagans who have destroyed the land of Rus'. And you have Itlarevich with you: either kill him, or hand him over to us. He is an enemy to us and to the land of Rus'.” Oleg did not listen to this, and hatred arose between them.
In that same year the Cumans came to Yuriev and stood around it all summer, and almost took it. Sviatopolk made peace with them. The Cumans came beyond the Ros. The men of Yuriev fled and came to Kyiv. Sviatopolk ordered a town built on the Vytichev Hill, naming it for himself — Sviatopolk's town — and he ordered Bishop Marin to settle there with the men of Yuriev, and the men of Zasakov, and the rest of them; and the Cumans burned Yuriev empty. As this year came to its end, David Sviatoslavich went from Novgorod to Smolensk. The men of Novgorod went to Rostov for Mstislav, son of Vladimir. They took him and brought him to Novgorod, and said to David: “Do not come to us.” David turned back and sat again in Smolensk, and Mstislav sat in Novgorod. At that time Iziaslav, son of Vladimir, came from Kursk to Murom. The men of Murom received him and seized Oleg's governor. In that same year locusts came on August 28 and covered the land, and it was terrible to see. They went toward the northern lands, eating grass and millet.