Russian History Documentaries

The most vivid pages of Russian history and the establishment and consolidation of Russian state power are associated with the eighteen Russian Tsars of the House of Romanov which include such historic names as Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Nicholas I and Alexanders I, II and III. The dynasty ended with the brutal assassination of the last Tsar, Nicholas II and his family by the Bolsheviks in Ekaterinburg in 1917. The Romanov dynasty played a hugely important role in world history, and the series highlights the life stories and characters of the tsars, recounting their rise to power and their contribution to the dynasty, their merits and their faults, their achievements and mistakes, their victories and defeats in war. The series also examines the Russian form of 'Caesarism' as a system of state administration - its advantages and drawbacks and how the Russian state changed under the Romanov's rule. THE ROMANOVS is told in eight epic one-hour episodes using a unique combination of magnificent CGI animation and dramatic reconstruction with careful and accurate attention paid to each period.The Chetniks capture an Italian supply convoy. Mihailović then radios the German headquarters in the nearby coastal town of Kotor in Montenegro and offers to exchange Italian POWs for gasoline. Infuriated, General von Bauer refuses, but when Mihailović threatens to notify the Italian High Command of his decision, Gestapo colonel Wilhelm Brockner orders Von Bauer to comply. Brockner, who has been unable to capture Mihailović, is convinced that the Yugoslav leader's wife Ljubica and their two children, Nada and Mirko, are hiding in Kotor. He plans to use them as hostages to blackmail Mihailović into surrendering. Brockner warns the townspeople that anyone caught aiding the Mihailović family will be executed, and prepares the deportation of 2,000 men from Kotor to Nazi Germany. Brockner's secretary Natalia, however, is a spy for the Chetniks and is in love with Aleksa, one of Mihailović's aides. Forewarned by Natalia's information, the Chetniks attack the train transporting the two thousand prisoners and free them. In retaliation, Brockner decrees that no food will be distributed to the citizens of Kotor until Ljubica and her children are turned over to the Germans. Lubitca tries to surrender to Brockner but is stopped by Natalia, after which Mihailović asks to meet with Von Bauer and Brockner. After Mihailović arrives at the German headquarters, however, von Bauer declares that, since the official Yugoslav government had capitulated, international law does not prevent him from killing Mihailović, even though they are meeting under a flag of truce. Mihailović then reveals to the general that the Chetniks are holding his wife and daughter as hostages, as well as Brockner's mistress, and that they will be executed unless the citizens of Kotor are given food. Bluffing, Mihailović also tells the general that he has captured Field Marshal von Klausevitz and 600 troops and those will also be executed unless his conditions are met. The general angrily releases Mihailović and provides rations for Kotor. Mihailović's son Mirko, demonstrating his patriotism, betrays his true identity to his German schoolteacher. After taking Mirko into custody, von Bauer and Brockner escort Ljubica to Mihailović's mountain stronghold and then inform him that every man, woman, and child in Kotor would be executed unless the Chetniks surrender within 18 hours. Mihailović informs Ljubica that he cannot surrender. She then returns to Kotor to comfort their children. Mihailović immediately organizes a plan of attack and sends some of his men to the mountain pass to Kotor, where they trick the Germans into thinking that they are surrendering, while the rest of the Chetniks attack the town from the mountains on the other side. Even though Aleksa, who was assigned to infiltrate the German artillery battery, is taken prisoner by the Germans, Mihailović's plan succeeds. After an intense battle, the Chetniks gain control of Kotor and free all of the hostages, including Mihailović's family. In the final scene, Mihailović broadcasts a radio message to his fellow Yugoslavs that the guerrillas will continue fighting until they have regained complete freedom for their people and driven out the invading Axis troops.

The most vivid pages of Russian history and the establishment and consolidation of Russian state power are associated with the eighteen Russian Tsars of the House of Romanov which include such historic names as Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Nicholas I and Alexanders I, II and III. The dynasty ended with the brutal assassination of the last Tsar, Nicholas II and his family by the Bolsheviks in Ekaterinburg in 1917. The Romanov dynasty played a hugely important role in world history, and the series highlights the life stories and characters of the tsars, recounting their rise to power and their contribution to the dynasty, their merits and their faults, their achievements and mistakes, their victories and defeats in war. The series also examines the Russian form of 'Caesarism' as a system of state administration - its advantages and drawbacks and how the Russian state changed under the Romanov's rule. THE ROMANOVS is told in eight epic one-hour episodes using a unique combination of magnificent CGI animation and dramatic reconstruction with careful and accurate attention paid to each period.The Chetniks capture an Italian supply convoy. Mihailović then radios the German headquarters in the nearby coastal town of Kotor in Montenegro and offers to exchange Italian POWs for gasoline. Infuriated, General von Bauer refuses, but when Mihailović threatens to notify the Italian High Command of his decision, Gestapo colonel Wilhelm Brockner orders Von Bauer to comply. Brockner, who has been unable to capture Mihailović, is convinced that the Yugoslav leader's wife Ljubica and their two children, Nada and Mirko, are hiding in Kotor. He plans to use them as hostages to blackmail Mihailović into surrendering. Brockner warns the townspeople that anyone caught aiding the Mihailović family will be executed, and prepares the deportation of 2,000 men from Kotor to Nazi Germany. Brockner's secretary Natalia, however, is a spy for the Chetniks and is in love with Aleksa, one of Mihailović's aides. Forewarned by Natalia's information, the Chetniks attack the train transporting the two thousand prisoners and free them. In retaliation, Brockner decrees that no food will be distributed to the citizens of Kotor until Ljubica and her children are turned over to the Germans. Lubitca tries to surrender to Brockner but is stopped by Natalia, after which Mihailović asks to meet with Von Bauer and Brockner. After Mihailović arrives at the German headquarters, however, von Bauer declares that, since the official Yugoslav government had capitulated, international law does not prevent him from killing Mihailović, even though they are meeting under a flag of truce. Mihailović then reveals to the general that the Chetniks are holding his wife and daughter as hostages, as well as Brockner's mistress, and that they will be executed unless the citizens of Kotor are given food. Bluffing, Mihailović also tells the general that he has captured Field Marshal von Klausevitz and 600 troops and those will also be executed unless his conditions are met. The general angrily releases Mihailović and provides rations for Kotor. Mihailović's son Mirko, demonstrating his patriotism, betrays his true identity to his German schoolteacher. After taking Mirko into custody, von Bauer and Brockner escort Ljubica to Mihailović's mountain stronghold and then inform him that every man, woman, and child in Kotor would be executed unless the Chetniks surrender within 18 hours. Mihailović informs Ljubica that he cannot surrender. She then returns to Kotor to comfort their children. Mihailović immediately organizes a plan of attack and sends some of his men to the mountain pass to Kotor, where they trick the Germans into thinking that they are surrendering, while the rest of the Chetniks attack the town from the mountains on the other side. Even though Aleksa, who was assigned to infiltrate the German artillery battery, is taken prisoner by the Germans, Mihailović's plan succeeds. After an intense battle, the Chetniks gain control of Kotor and free all of the hostages, including Mihailović's family. In the final scene, Mihailović broadcasts a radio message to his fellow Yugoslavs that the guerrillas will continue fighting until they have regained complete freedom for their people and driven out the invading Axis troops.

The most vivid pages of Russian history and the establishment and consolidation of Russian state power are associated with the eighteen Russian Tsars of the House of Romanov which include such historic names as Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Nicholas I and Alexanders I, II and III. The dynasty ended with the brutal assassination of the last Tsar, Nicholas II and his family by the Bolsheviks in Ekaterinburg in 1917. The Romanov dynasty played a hugely important role in world history, and the series highlights the life stories and characters of the tsars, recounting their rise to power and their contribution to the dynasty, their merits and their faults, their achievements and mistakes, their victories and defeats in war. The series also examines the Russian form of 'Caesarism' as a system of state administration - its advantages and drawbacks and how the Russian state changed under the Romanov's rule. THE ROMANOVS is told in eight epic one-hour episodes using a unique combination of magnificent CGI animation and dramatic reconstruction with careful and accurate attention paid to each period.The Chetniks capture an Italian supply convoy. Mihailović then radios the German headquarters in the nearby coastal town of Kotor in Montenegro and offers to exchange Italian POWs for gasoline. Infuriated, General von Bauer refuses, but when Mihailović threatens to notify the Italian High Command of his decision, Gestapo colonel Wilhelm Brockner orders Von Bauer to comply. Brockner, who has been unable to capture Mihailović, is convinced that the Yugoslav leader's wife Ljubica and their two children, Nada and Mirko, are hiding in Kotor. He plans to use them as hostages to blackmail Mihailović into surrendering. Brockner warns the townspeople that anyone caught aiding the Mihailović family will be executed, and prepares the deportation of 2,000 men from Kotor to Nazi Germany. Brockner's secretary Natalia, however, is a spy for the Chetniks and is in love with Aleksa, one of Mihailović's aides. Forewarned by Natalia's information, the Chetniks attack the train transporting the two thousand prisoners and free them. In retaliation, Brockner decrees that no food will be distributed to the citizens of Kotor until Ljubica and her children are turned over to the Germans. Lubitca tries to surrender to Brockner but is stopped by Natalia, after which Mihailović asks to meet with Von Bauer and Brockner. After Mihailović arrives at the German headquarters, however, von Bauer declares that, since the official Yugoslav government had capitulated, international law does not prevent him from killing Mihailović, even though they are meeting under a flag of truce. Mihailović then reveals to the general that the Chetniks are holding his wife and daughter as hostages, as well as Brockner's mistress, and that they will be executed unless the citizens of Kotor are given food. Bluffing, Mihailović also tells the general that he has captured Field Marshal von Klausevitz and 600 troops and those will also be executed unless his conditions are met. The general angrily releases Mihailović and provides rations for Kotor. Mihailović's son Mirko, demonstrating his patriotism, betrays his true identity to his German schoolteacher. After taking Mirko into custody, von Bauer and Brockner escort Ljubica to Mihailović's mountain stronghold and then inform him that every man, woman, and child in Kotor would be executed unless the Chetniks surrender within 18 hours. Mihailović informs Ljubica that he cannot surrender. She then returns to Kotor to comfort their children. Mihailović immediately organizes a plan of attack and sends some of his men to the mountain pass to Kotor, where they trick the Germans into thinking that they are surrendering, while the rest of the Chetniks attack the town from the mountains on the other side. Even though Aleksa, who was assigned to infiltrate the German artillery battery, is taken prisoner by the Germans, Mihailović's plan succeeds. After an intense battle, the Chetniks gain control of Kotor and free all of the hostages, including Mihailović's family. In the final scene, Mihailović broadcasts a radio message to his fellow Yugoslavs that the guerrillas will continue fighting until they have regained complete freedom for their people and driven out the invading Axis troops.

The most vivid pages of Russian history and the establishment and consolidation of Russian state power are associated with the eighteen Russian Tsars of the House of Romanov which include such historic names as Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Nicholas I and Alexanders I, II and III. The dynasty ended with the brutal assassination of the last Tsar, Nicholas II and his family by the Bolsheviks in Ekaterinburg in 1917. The Romanov dynasty played a hugely important role in world history, and the series highlights the life stories and characters of the tsars, recounting their rise to power and their contribution to the dynasty, their merits and their faults, their achievements and mistakes, their victories and defeats in war. The series also examines the Russian form of 'Caesarism' as a system of state administration - its advantages and drawbacks and how the Russian state changed under the Romanov's rule. THE ROMANOVS is told in eight epic one-hour episodes using a unique combination of magnificent CGI animation and dramatic reconstruction with careful and accurate attention paid to each period.The Chetniks capture an Italian supply convoy. Mihailović then radios the German headquarters in the nearby coastal town of Kotor in Montenegro and offers to exchange Italian POWs for gasoline. Infuriated, General von Bauer refuses, but when Mihailović threatens to notify the Italian High Command of his decision, Gestapo colonel Wilhelm Brockner orders Von Bauer to comply. Brockner, who has been unable to capture Mihailović, is convinced that the Yugoslav leader's wife Ljubica and their two children, Nada and Mirko, are hiding in Kotor. He plans to use them as hostages to blackmail Mihailović into surrendering. Brockner warns the townspeople that anyone caught aiding the Mihailović family will be executed, and prepares the deportation of 2,000 men from Kotor to Nazi Germany. Brockner's secretary Natalia, however, is a spy for the Chetniks and is in love with Aleksa, one of Mihailović's aides. Forewarned by Natalia's information, the Chetniks attack the train transporting the two thousand prisoners and free them. In retaliation, Brockner decrees that no food will be distributed to the citizens of Kotor until Ljubica and her children are turned over to the Germans. Lubitca tries to surrender to Brockner but is stopped by Natalia, after which Mihailović asks to meet with Von Bauer and Brockner. After Mihailović arrives at the German headquarters, however, von Bauer declares that, since the official Yugoslav government had capitulated, international law does not prevent him from killing Mihailović, even though they are meeting under a flag of truce. Mihailović then reveals to the general that the Chetniks are holding his wife and daughter as hostages, as well as Brockner's mistress, and that they will be executed unless the citizens of Kotor are given food. Bluffing, Mihailović also tells the general that he has captured Field Marshal von Klausevitz and 600 troops and those will also be executed unless his conditions are met. The general angrily releases Mihailović and provides rations for Kotor. Mihailović's son Mirko, demonstrating his patriotism, betrays his true identity to his German schoolteacher. After taking Mirko into custody, von Bauer and Brockner escort Ljubica to Mihailović's mountain stronghold and then inform him that every man, woman, and child in Kotor would be executed unless the Chetniks surrender within 18 hours. Mihailović informs Ljubica that he cannot surrender. She then returns to Kotor to comfort their children. Mihailović immediately organizes a plan of attack and sends some of his men to the mountain pass to Kotor, where they trick the Germans into thinking that they are surrendering, while the rest of the Chetniks attack the town from the mountains on the other side. Even though Aleksa, who was assigned to infiltrate the German artillery battery, is taken prisoner by the Germans, Mihailović's plan succeeds. After an intense battle, the Chetniks gain control of Kotor and free all of the hostages, including Mihailović's family. In the final scene, Mihailović broadcasts a radio message to his fellow Yugoslavs that the guerrillas will continue fighting until they have regained complete freedom for their people and driven out the invading Axis troops.

The most vivid pages of Russian history and the establishment and consolidation of Russian state power are associated with the eighteen Russian Tsars of the House of Romanov which include such historic names as Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Nicholas I and Alexanders I, II and III. The dynasty ended with the brutal assassination of the last Tsar, Nicholas II and his family by the Bolsheviks in Ekaterinburg in 1917. The Romanov dynasty played a hugely important role in world history, and the series highlights the life stories and characters of the tsars, recounting their rise to power and their contribution to the dynasty, their merits and their faults, their achievements and mistakes, their victories and defeats in war. The series also examines the Russian form of 'Caesarism' as a system of state administration - its advantages and drawbacks and how the Russian state changed under the Romanov's rule. THE ROMANOVS is told in eight epic one-hour episodes using a unique combination of magnificent CGI animation and dramatic reconstruction with careful and accurate attention paid to each period.The Chetniks capture an Italian supply convoy. Mihailović then radios the German headquarters in the nearby coastal town of Kotor in Montenegro and offers to exchange Italian POWs for gasoline. Infuriated, General von Bauer refuses, but when Mihailović threatens to notify the Italian High Command of his decision, Gestapo colonel Wilhelm Brockner orders Von Bauer to comply. Brockner, who has been unable to capture Mihailović, is convinced that the Yugoslav leader's wife Ljubica and their two children, Nada and Mirko, are hiding in Kotor. He plans to use them as hostages to blackmail Mihailović into surrendering. Brockner warns the townspeople that anyone caught aiding the Mihailović family will be executed, and prepares the deportation of 2,000 men from Kotor to Nazi Germany. Brockner's secretary Natalia, however, is a spy for the Chetniks and is in love with Aleksa, one of Mihailović's aides. Forewarned by Natalia's information, the Chetniks attack the train transporting the two thousand prisoners and free them. In retaliation, Brockner decrees that no food will be distributed to the citizens of Kotor until Ljubica and her children are turned over to the Germans. Lubitca tries to surrender to Brockner but is stopped by Natalia, after which Mihailović asks to meet with Von Bauer and Brockner. After Mihailović arrives at the German headquarters, however, von Bauer declares that, since the official Yugoslav government had capitulated, international law does not prevent him from killing Mihailović, even though they are meeting under a flag of truce. Mihailović then reveals to the general that the Chetniks are holding his wife and daughter as hostages, as well as Brockner's mistress, and that they will be executed unless the citizens of Kotor are given food. Bluffing, Mihailović also tells the general that he has captured Field Marshal von Klausevitz and 600 troops and those will also be executed unless his conditions are met. The general angrily releases Mihailović and provides rations for Kotor. Mihailović's son Mirko, demonstrating his patriotism, betrays his true identity to his German schoolteacher. After taking Mirko into custody, von Bauer and Brockner escort Ljubica to Mihailović's mountain stronghold and then inform him that every man, woman, and child in Kotor would be executed unless the Chetniks surrender within 18 hours. Mihailović informs Ljubica that he cannot surrender. She then returns to Kotor to comfort their children. Mihailović immediately organizes a plan of attack and sends some of his men to the mountain pass to Kotor, where they trick the Germans into thinking that they are surrendering, while the rest of the Chetniks attack the town from the mountains on the other side. Even though Aleksa, who was assigned to infiltrate the German artillery battery, is taken prisoner by the Germans, Mihailović's plan succeeds. After an intense battle, the Chetniks gain control of Kotor and free all of the hostages, including Mihailović's family. In the final scene, Mihailović broadcasts a radio message to his fellow Yugoslavs that the guerrillas will continue fighting until they have regained complete freedom for their people and driven out the invading Axis troops.

The most vivid pages of Russian history and the establishment and consolidation of Russian state power are associated with the eighteen Russian Tsars of the House of Romanov which include such historic names as Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Nicholas I and Alexanders I, II and III. The dynasty ended with the brutal assassination of the last Tsar, Nicholas II and his family by the Bolsheviks in Ekaterinburg in 1917. The Romanov dynasty played a hugely important role in world history, and the series highlights the life stories and characters of the tsars, recounting their rise to power and their contribution to the dynasty, their merits and their faults, their achievements and mistakes, their victories and defeats in war. The series also examines the Russian form of 'Caesarism' as a system of state administration - its advantages and drawbacks and how the Russian state changed under the Romanov's rule. THE ROMANOVS is told in eight epic one-hour episodes using a unique combination of magnificent CGI animation and dramatic reconstruction with careful and accurate attention paid to each period.

The most vivid pages of Russian history and the establishment and consolidation of Russian state power are associated with the eighteen Russian Tsars of the House of Romanov which include such historic names as Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Nicholas I and Alexanders I, II and III. The dynasty ended with the brutal assassination of the last Tsar, Nicholas II and his family by the Bolsheviks in Ekaterinburg in 1917. The Romanov dynasty played a hugely important role in world history, and the series highlights the life stories and characters of the tsars, recounting their rise to power and their contribution to the dynasty, their merits and their faults, their achievements and mistakes, their victories and defeats in war. The series also examines the Russian form of 'Caesarism' as a system of state administration - its advantages and drawbacks and how the Russian state changed under the Romanov's rule. THE ROMANOVS is told in eight epic one-hour episodes using a unique combination of magnificent CGI animation and dramatic reconstruction with careful and accurate attention paid to each period.

A recreated glimpse of the invasion of Russia by Napoleon in about 30 minutes by Vasili Goncharov

Conquest and the struggle of power, victory and defeat, love and betrayal, the rise of culture and the ashes of conflagration - these are just some of the elements of the Rurik dynasty. Founded by Viking/Varangian prince, the Rurik dynasty ruled the territory of Kievan Rus from 882, and later, several neighbouring principalities including the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Their rule continued until 1610 and the Time of Troubles, after which they were succeeded by the Romanovs. Throughout their rule, the Rurikids fortified, defended and expanded their territory - sometimes with fierce and terrifying battles, sometimes with reconciliation and peace treaties. Most importantly, however, it was under their rule that Russian culture developed, and the Russian nation. The two 16th-century Muscovite rulers episode 8 investigates were almost polar opposites--- Ivan IV "the Terrible" and Feodor "the Blessed". Ivan IV Vasilyevich (Grozny or Terrible) was the first Russian ruler that took the title of "Tsar" (Caesar or Emperor) although both his grandfather, Ivan III, and his father Vasily IV, unofficially use the title. Ivan IV greatly expanded the boundaries of the state by annexing the lands of the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates, as well as Western Siberia. Under him, the first Zemsky Sobor was convened, a new Code of Laws was created, reforms of the military service and the judicial system of public administration were carried out. He started a war for access to the Baltic Sea, defeated the Livonian Order and captured part of the Baltic states, but other northern European states also claimed these lands, and, ultimately, the Livonian War ended in defeat. Foreign policy failures provoked a change in the domestic policy of Ivan IV: he introduced the oprichnina, defeated the old boyar families, and turned the autocratic power of the tsar into open tyranny. By the end of Ivan IV's reign, the once prosperous and powerful country, ravaged by terror and wars, was on the brink of disaster. And the murder of his eldest son Ivan by the king deprived the whole dynasty of the future. Feodor Ioannovich, the Blessed (also known as the Bellringer, due to fondness for ringing church bells. He was the eldest of the two surviving sons of Ivan the Terrible, balanced, good-natured, and meek, the very pious Feodor (Fedor) all his life atoned for the sins of his father. He almost did not interfere in state affairs, entrusting them to his brother-in-law, the boyar Boris Godunov. Feodor died early, leaving no heir. His younger brother, Tsarevich Dmitry, died under unclear and suspicious circumstances. The Rurik dynasty was interrupted. Boris Godunov seized power, having ensured that the Zemsky Sobor elected him tsar. A few years later, turmoil began in the country, which almost destroyed the Russian state.

Conquest and the struggle of power, victory and defeat, love and betrayal, the rise of culture and the ashes of conflagration - these are just some of the elements of the Rurik dynasty. Founded by Viking/Varangian prince, the Rurik dynasty ruled the territory of Kievan Rus from 882, and later, several neighbouring principalities including the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Their rule continued until 1610 and the Time of Troubles, after which they were succeeded by the Romanovs. Throughout their rule, the Rurikids fortified, defended and expanded their territory - sometimes with fierce and terrifying battles, sometimes with reconciliation and peace treaties. Most importantly, however, it was under their rule that Russian culture developed, and the Russian nation. While mentioning other Muscovite Grand Princes, episode delves into the reigns of three who made the greatest impact in the late 14th and the 15th centuries these are: Vasily I Dmitrievich, Vasily II Vasilyevich, and Ivan III Vasilyevich. Throughout Vasily I's reign, Muscovy was caught between two significant powers: the Lithuania and the Golden Horde and, but with his Vasily's skillful policy maintained the independence of Moscow in these under these conditions. The situation changed more than once, the successes of the prince gave way to failures. Nevertheless the last years of Vasily I's reign were relatively calm, and Moscow got the opportunity to strengthen its economic potential. These years saw the effervescence of Russian culture: it was in his era that the canon of church architecture and painting was formed, the iconographers painters Theophanes the Greek and Andrei Rublev created their masterworks, and the second South Slavic Sophistic influenced Russian literature. Vasily II (“the Dark”)’s reign was occupied by a quarter-century internecine war between two families of the Danilovich clan. Vasily lost his throne several times, was captured, was blinded, for which he received the nickname Dark One. Despite his suffering and vicissitudes, he managed to emerge from all internecine strife as a winner, strengthen the Muscovite state and almost eliminate Horde dependence. Under him, the Russian Church received de facto autocephaly - independence from the Patriarchate of Constantinople. And after the fall of the Byzantine Empire, the Russian state remained the only Orthodox power of consequence. This was made possible by his able son, Ivan III, serving as his regent in his later years. Ivan III completed the process of unification of Russian lands under the auspices of the Moscow principality, eliminated dependence on the Horde. Rus' entered the international arena as a great European power, became the successor of the perished Byzantine Empire, the mainstay of Orthodoxy. Ivan III initiated the creation of the Code of Laws - the first all-Russian code of laws after the "Russian Truth". He rebuilt the Moscow Kremlin with brick walls and stone cathedrals. He annexed Novgorod to the Moscow principality. He conquered the lands of Perm the Great, spreading his influence to the Ural Mountains. The double-headed eagle became the state symbol of Rus', a new title appeared - the Grand Duke of Moscow became the Sovereign of All Rus'.

Conquest and the struggle of power, victory and defeat, love and betrayal, the rise of culture and the ashes of conflagration - these are just some of the elements of the Rurik dynasty. Founded by Viking/Varangian prince, the Rurik dynasty ruled the territory of Kievan Rus from 882, and later, several neighbouring principalities including the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Their rule continued until 1610 and the Time of Troubles, after which they were succeeded by the Romanovs. Throughout their rule, the Rurikids fortified, defended and expanded their territory - sometimes with fierce and terrifying battles, sometimes with reconciliation and peace treaties. Most importantly, however, it was under their rule that Russian culture developed, and the Russian nation. Episode six chronicles the careers of the first Danilovichi, the heirs of Danilo,grandson of Alexander Nevski, concentrating on Ivan Danilovich (Kalita) and Dmitry Ivanovich (Donskoy). He continued the policy of his older brother Yuri, but used more sophisticated methods. Nickname Kalita (“purse”) received, according to one version, for the desire to enrich the Moscow treasury by any means, in which he was very successful. He achieved the transfer of the metropolitan see from Vladimir to Moscow, which made it the spiritual capital of Rus'. He laid the foundation for the architectural ensemble of the Moscow Kremlin by building the first white-stone cathedrals and oak walls. Through his efforts, the Moscow principality defeated Tver, during the entire reign of Ivan Kalita, not a single raid was made on Moscow lands. During these 40 years of "great silence" in Rus', a new generation has grown up, which will enter the Kulikovo field. Dmitry Donskoi became the Grand Duke at the age of 9, his guardian was the Metropolitan of Moscow Alexy. At this time, the Golden Horde was going through a period of unrest and disintegration, but the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was noticeably stronger. The young prince fought to strengthen his principality, fought with Lithuania, and led the anti-Horde movement in the Russian lands. Under him, the great reign was finally assigned to Moscow and the process of uniting the Russian lands and liberating them from the power of the Golden Horde began. With the help of the main spiritual authority of Rus', hegumen Sergius of Radonezh, Dmitry for the first time managed to unite the forces of different lands, and defeated the Horde in the battle on the Kulikovo field, near the Don, for which he received the nickname Donskoy. In the 20th century he was glorified as a saint.

Conquest and the struggle of power, victory and defeat, love and betrayal, the rise of culture and the ashes of conflagration - these are just some of the elements of the Rurik dynasty. Founded by Viking/Varangian prince, the Rurik dynasty ruled the territory of Kievan Rus from 882, and later, several neighbouring principalities including the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Their rule continued until 1610 and the Time of Troubles, after which they were succeeded by the Romanovs. Throughout their rule, the Rurikids fortified, defended and expanded their territory - sometimes with fierce and terrifying battles, sometimes with reconciliation and peace treaties. Most importantly, however, it was under their rule that Russian culture developed, and the Russian nation emerged to become the vast transcontinental and multi-ethnic state that exists today. Episode 5 mostly narrates the life of Alexander Yaroslavich (Nevsky). When the Prince was 16 years old, the Mongol-Tatar invasion of North-Eastern Rus' began, perceived by contemporaries as a harbinger of the end of the world. His father, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, was the first of the Russian princes to go to the Horde and was the first to receive a label for the great reign of Vladimir from the hands of Batu Khan. But he stubbornly resisted attempts to penetrate into the Novgorod lands of Western European crusader knights. Alexander Yaroslavich continued his father's policy. He acquired the glory of the great commander in his youth, defeating the Swedish knights in the battle on the Neva, for which he received the nickname - Nevsky. He defeated the German crusaders in the Battle of Lake Peipsi, known as the Battle of the Ice. He resolutely refused an alliance with the Pope, perhaps realizing that the ethnic and state independence of Rus' was at stake. And he humbled princely pride, recognizing dependence on the Horde, because to some extent it protected the Russian lands and created at least some semblance of stability. It is this feat of humility that will subsequently give the Russian Church grounds to glorify Alexander Nevsky as a saint. The lands dependent on the Horde will remain Russian and Orthodox. The rest will become part of the Catholic Western European states and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. With his tactical choice, Alexander Yaroslavich predetermined the further course of Russian history. In the 16th century, he was canonized as a miracle worker. In 2008, he was elected "in the name of Russia" by popular vote.

Conquest and the struggle of power, victory and defeat, love and betrayal, the rise of culture and the ashes of conflagration - these are just some of the elements of the Rurik dynasty. Founded by Viking/Varangian prince, the Rurik dynasty ruled the territory of Kievan Rus from 882, and later, several neighbouring principalities including the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Their rule continued until 1610 and the Time of Troubles, after which they were succeeded by the Romanovs. Throughout their rule, the Rurikids fortified, defended and expanded their territory - sometimes with fierce and terrifying battles, sometimes with reconciliation and peace treaties. Most importantly, however, it was under their rule that Russian culture developed, and the Russian nation emerged to become the vast transcontinental and multi-ethnic state that exists today. Episode 4 recounts the reigns Yuri Vladimirovich (Dolgoruky) and Andrey Yurievich (Bogolyubsky). Yuri Dolgoruky went down in history as the founder of the future capital of the Russian state, as the prince who laid the foundation for the dynasty of Vladimir-Suzdal and Moscow rulers, the organizer of North-Eastern Rus', which became the core of the future Great Russia. During the reign of Yuri, a distant outback began to gradually turn into one of the most highly developed regions of Rus'. But Dolgoruky all his life yearned for the throne of Kiev, and when he received it, the people of Kiev considered him a stranger and a usurper, and soon he died from poison. During Andrey Bogolyubsky's reign, the most powerful in Rus' was his own principality - Vladimir-Suzdal. He changed the political system, making not Kiev, but Vladimir, a great princedom. Relying not on the tribal boyars, but on the younger combatants, he laid the foundations of the future nobility. Under him, the famous Vladimir churches were built, which became masterpieces of world architecture. In the 18th century, he was canonized as a faithful.

Conquest and the struggle of power, victory and defeat, love and betrayal, the rise of culture and the ashes of conflagration - these are just some of the elements of the Rurik dynasty. Founded by Viking/Varangian prince, the Rurik dynasty ruled the territory of Kievan Rus from 882, and later, several neighbouring principalities including the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Their rule continued until 1610 and the Time of Troubles, after which they were succeeded by the Romanovs. Throughout their rule, the Rurikids fortified, defended and expanded their territory - sometimes with fierce and terrifying battles, sometimes with reconciliation and peace treaties. Most importantly, however, it was under their rule that Russian culture developed, and the Russian nation emerged to become the vast transcontinental and multi-ethnic state that exists today. Vladimir Vsevolodovich (Monomakh) is the subject of episode 3. He was called to the great reign of Kiev by the Kievans themselves, tired of the endless turmoil and change of princes. For some time he managed to "extinguish" the fire of princely strife. A talented commander, he defeated the Polovtsy and created a border defense system. The only one of all the Russian princes, he left autobiographical notes, known as "Instructions of Vladimir Monomakh." It was with his name that Moscow scribes of the 15th century connected the legend of the appearance in Rus' of royal regalia, allegedly received from the Byzantine emperor, including the so-called “Monomakh's cap”. Canonized in the guise of a faithful. Of the entire Rurik dynasty, it was Vladimir Monomakh who remained in historical and popular memory as an ideal ruler. He showed the Russian princes the way to preserve Rus' as a single whole, held together not only by political, but also spiritual bonds. In order to embark on this path, it was not so much political will that was required, but the ability to sacrifice profit for the sake of a lofty goal, and the ability to keep “the fear of God” in the soul.

Conquest and the struggle of power, victory and defeat, love and betrayal, the rise of culture and the ashes of conflagration - these are just some of the elements of the Rurik dynasty. Founded by Viking/Varangian prince, the Rurik dynasty ruled the territory of Kievan Rus from 882, and later, several neighbouring principalities including the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Their rule continued until 1610 and the Time of Troubles, after which they were succeeded by the Romanovs. Throughout their rule, the Rurikids fortified, defended and expanded their territory - sometimes with fierce and terrifying battles, sometimes with reconciliation and peace treaties. Most importantly, however, it was under their rule that Russian culture developed, and the Russian nation emerged to become the vast transcontinental and multi-ethnic state that exists today. The second episode covers the reigns of Sviatoslav, Vladimir, and Yaroslav. Svyatoslav Igorevich. The only thing that interested him in life was the war. But not the defense of borders, but the endless expansion of the territory. He ignored the emergence of new militant nomads from the Great Steppe - the Pechenegs, but in a few years he defeated the Khazar Khaganate, plundered the Volga Bulgaria and went south - to the borders of the Byzantine Empire. To stop him, it took almost the entire power of the Eastern Roman army. Svyatoslav had to return to Rus', and on the way back he was ambushed at the Dnieper rapids by the Pechenegs, whom he once did not take seriously. Vladimir Svyatoslavich (Saint). In Rus', they called him the Red Sun and composed epics about him, which outlived him for many centuries. In Europe, he was known as a wild pagan, whose cruelty and debauchery were legendary. It was he who brought Orthodoxy to Rus', than determined the entire subsequent history of his country. Vladimir united the Russian lands under his rule and created a great power, cementing it with a common faith in one God. In the XIV century, Prince Vladimir of Kiev was glorified as a Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles, which is revered by both the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Yaroslav Vladimirovich (Wise). Having come to power after a fratricidal war, in a short time he recreated the almost crumbling Russian state, crushed the Pechenegs and turned Kievan Rus into one of the most powerful and stable states in Europe. He had extensive dynastic connections: his wife was the daughter of the Swedish king, his daughters-in-law were Polish, Austrian and Byzantine princesses, and his sons-in-law were the kings of Norway, Hungary and France. On his initiative, the first code of laws in Rus' was created - the so-called "Yaroslav's Truth". Together with the “Truth of the Yaroslavichs” and “The Teachings of Vladimir Monomakh”, this code is called “Russian Truth”, it operated on the territory of Rus' for several centuries. Canonized in the guise of a faithful.

Conquest and the struggle of power, victory and defeat, love and betrayal, the rise of culture and the ashes of conflagration - these are just some of the elements of the Rurik dynasty. Founded by Viking/Varangian princes, the Rurik dynasty ruled the territory of Kievan Rus from 882, and later, several neighboring principalities including the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Their rule continued until 1610 and the Time of Troubles, after which they were succeeded by the Romanovs. Throughout their rule, the Rurikids fortified, defended and expanded their territory - sometimes with fierce and terrifying battles, sometimes with reconciliation and peace treaties. Most importantly, however, it was under their rule that Russian culture developed, and the Russian nation emerged to become the vast transcontinental and multi-ethnic state that exists today. Episode 1 deals with Rurik. According to the chronicle, he came "from beyond the sea", from where waves of northern pirates, the Vikings, rolled over Europe, but he came not as a conqueror, but as a mercenary. The inhabitants of Ladoga called him because they needed an experienced warrior and an independent ruler who could prevent strife. Together with his squad, Rurik concluded an agreement with Ladoga and gave the Ladoga residents an oath of allegiance. It is this moment - according to the annals, 862 AD, that is considered the starting point of the Russian state. The first episode also covers the reigns of Igor Rurikovich, his uncle Oleg, and Princess Olga. The first prince of Rurikoviches, Igor, was on the throne as a baby: Rurik died when his son was barely a year old. The guardian and regent for the young prince was the trusted governor Oleg, who went down in history as the Seer. For almost forty years, Prince Igor accompanied him on all campaigns. Before Igor's eyes, Oleg created a state - he subjugated the tribes, collected lands, went to Tsargrad (Constantinople). But Igor's own rule ended in a catastrophe that cost him his life. His widow, Princess Olga, did what her husband could not do: she strengthened the crumbling state and improved relations with the Byzantine Empire.