“The tale of bygone years”: year of creation and author

For more than 900 years, the Russians get information about the history of the famous "chronicle", the exact date of the writing of which is still unknown. A lot of controversy is the question of the authorship of this work.

A Few words about myths and historical facts

The Scientific postulates with the passage of time often subject to change, but if in physics, chemistry, biology, or astronomy, like the scientific revolution is based on the identification of new facts, history repeatedly rewritten in favor of the authorities or according to the dominant ideology. Fortunately, modern man has a lot of opportunities to find and compare the facts relating to events that occurred centuries and even millennia ago, and also to get acquainted with the point of view of scientists who do not adhere to traditional views. All the above is applicable to such a important to understanding the history of Russia the document as “the chronicle", year of creation and the authorship of which is questioned by some members of the scientific community.

“the chronicle": authorship

From "chronicle" its Creator can be found only the at the end of the XI century he lived in the Pechora monastery. In particular, there is a record of the Polovtsian attack on the monastery in the year 1096, which was a witness of the chronicler. In addition, the document mentions the death of the elder Yang, who helped the writing of historical work, and indicated that the death of this monk happened in 1106, and therefore, at that time the person who made the entry, was alive.

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The Russian official science, including the Soviet, from the time of Peter the great believed that the author of the novel "the chronicle” — chronicler Nestor. The oldest historical document that refers to it is the famous Ipatiev chronicle, written in 20-ies of the XV century. This work includes a separate Chapter text. "chronicle", which precedes the mention as the author of a monk of Pechersk monastery. The name of Nestor was first found in the correspondence of the caves monk Polikarp Archimandrite Akindinos. This fact confirms "the Life of St. Anthony", compiled on the basis of an oral monastic tradition.

Nestor the Chronicler

“Official" author "chronicle" was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church, so you can read about it in the lives of the saints. From these sources we learn that the monk Nestor was born in Kyiv in 1050 years. At the age of seventeen he entered the Kievo-Pechersk monastery, where he was a novice monk Theodosii. At a fairly young age, Nestor took monastic vows and later was ordained a Hierodeacon. All his life he spent in Kiev-Pechersk Lavra: here he wrote not only "chronicle", the year of establishment which is not known, but the famous lives of the saints princes Boris and Gleb, as well as telling of the first ascetics of the monastery. Religious sources are also States that have reached a ripe old age Nestor died around the year 1114.

What “the chronicle”

“the chronicle” — the history of our country, covering a huge time period, incredibly rich in variety of events. The manuscript begins with the story of the sons of Noah, one of whom — Japheth —went to the management of such lands, like Armenia, Britain, Scythia, Dalmatia, Ionia, Illyria, Macedonia, media, Cappadocia, Paphlagonia, Thessaly, and others. The brothers began the construction of Babel pillars, however, angered the Lord not only destroyed this building, symbolizing the human pride, but also divided the people "in the 70 2 people”, among whom was Noriko — the ancestors of the Slavs descended from the sons of Japheth. Further is mentioned about the Apostle Andrew, who predicted that on the banks of the river will be a Great city, what happened, when Prince Cue brothers Schek and horyv founded Kiev. Another important mention concerns the year of 862, when “Chud, Slovenes, Krivichi and all" went to the Vikings call them to reign, and came to call them the three brothers Rurik, Truvor and Sineus with their families and retinue. Two of the newcomers boyars-Askold and dir — had cleared from Novgorod to Constantinople and, seeing on the way to Kiev, and stayed there. Further, "chronicle", the year which historians have yet to clarify, talks about the reign of Oleg and Igor and recounts the story of the baptism of Rus. The story ends with the events of 1117.

“the chronicle": the history of the study of this work

Nestorovskaya chronicle became known after Peter the great in 1715 was commissioned to make a copy of Radivilivskogo list stored in the library of königsberg. Preserved documents proving that the king's attention on this manuscript drew James Bruce — personality, remarkable in all respects. He gave arrangement Radivilivskogo list at the modern language Vasily Tatishchev, who was going to write the history of Russia. In addition, the study of the novelworked such famous scientists as A. Slater, P. M. Stroev A. A. Shakhmatov.

Nestor the Chronicler. "chronicle": the view Shakhmatov

A New look at the "chronicle" was proposed in the early twentieth century. Its author was a famous scientist A. A. Shakhmatov, who proposed and substantiated "new history" of the work. In particular, he cited arguments in favor of the fact that in 1039 in Kiev on the basis of Byzantine Chronicles and local folklore, was created by Kiev vault, which can be considered the oldest document of this kind in Russia. Around the same time in Novgorod was written by the Novgorod chronicle. On the basis of these two works in 1073 Nestor created the first Kyiv-Pechersk arch, then the second and finally "chronicle".

“the chronicle" was written by a Russian monk and Scottish Prince?

Last two decades were rich in different kinds of historical sensation. However, it is fair to say that some of them have not found scientific confirmation. For example, today there is an opinion that "chronicle", the year of establishment which is known only approximately, is actually not written between 1110 and 1118 years and six centuries later. In any case, even official historians admit that Radzivilovsky list, i.e. copy of the manuscript, the authorship of which is attributed to Nestor, were made in the XV century and then decorated with numerous miniatures. Moreover, Tatishchev wrote “the History of Russia” not even with him, and with a quick summary of this work on contemporary language, the author of which, perhaps, he was James Bruce — the great-grandson of Scotland's king Robert the First. But this theory has no substantial justification.

What is the main essence Nesterovskogo

Professionals who hold an informal look at the work attributed to Nestor the Chronicler, and think that it was necessary to justify the autocracy as the only form of government in Russia. Moreover, the manuscript put the question about the failure of “gods”, pointing to Christianity as the only correct religion. This something was his main point.

“the chronicle” — this is the only work which describes the canonical version of the baptism of Rus, all the others just reference it. This alone should get very closely to explore it. And yet this "chronicle" which characteristic is adopted in the official historiography today is in question is the first source that tells about the fact that the Russian princes descended from Rurik. For every historical work is a very important date. "chronicle" of outstanding significance for the Russian historiography does not. More precisely, at the moment there is no conclusive evidence that allows you to specify even a particular year of its writing. This means that we have new discoveries that might be able to shed some light on some dark pages of the history of our country.