Oleg the Wise facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oleg |
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Lay of Oleg the Wise by Viktor Vasnetsov (1899)
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| Prince of Kiev | |
| Reign | 881/2/889 – 912/922/940s |
| Predecessor | Askold and Dir |
| Successor | Igor |
| Prince of Novgorod | |
| Reign | 879–912 |
| Predecessor | Rurik? |
| Successor | Igor |
| Died | 912 |
| Burial | Kiev (PVL) or Ladoga (NPL) |
| Dynasty | disputed |
| Father | unknown |
| Religion | Norse paganism |
Oleg (Old East Slavic: Ѡлегъ, romanized: Ōlegǔ, Ольгъ, Olǐgǔ; Old Norse: Helgi; died 912), also known as Oleg the Wise, was an important Varangian prince. He was a leader of the Rus' and became the prince of Kiev. He helped create the early state known as Kievan Rus'.
According to old writings called the Primary Chronicle, Oleg took over from his relative Rurik as ruler of Novgorod. He then took control of many East Slavic tribes, expanding his power south along the Dnieper river. Oleg also led a successful attack on Constantinople, a very important city at the time. He died in 912, and Rurik's son, Igor, became the next ruler.
Some historians have different ideas about when Oleg lived. They point to other old documents that suggest he might have been active later, even into the 940s. The exact connection between Oleg and Rurik's family is still something historians discuss.
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Oleg's Adventures in Ancient Chronicles
Old historical writings, like the Primary Chronicle, tell us about Oleg. They say he was a "relative" of Rurik, who was a powerful leader. Rurik supposedly asked Oleg to look after his kingdom and his young son, Igor. However, some modern experts disagree about whether Oleg was actually related to Rurik.
Oleg is said to have become the ruler of Novgorod in 879. Around 881–882, he took control of Smolensk. Then, he captured Kiev by tricking and defeating its rulers, Askold and Dir. He made Kiev his capital, which many see as the start of the Kievan Rus' state.
In 883, Oleg made the Drevlians tribe pay him a special tax, called tribute. This meant they had to give him goods or money to show their loyalty. In 907, the Drevlians even joined Oleg's army in a big fight against the Byzantine Empire. This was the Rus'-Byzantine War (907) against the city of Constantinople.
The chronicle says that Oleg attacked Constantinople. He ordered his boats to be put on wheels and waited for the right wind. When the wind blew, it pushed the wheeled boats towards the city over land! This surprised the city's people, and they had to agree to a peace talk. Oleg famously nailed his shield to the city gates. He won a very good trade agreement, which helped both his people and the Byzantines. Even though Byzantine records don't mention this war, the peace treaty's words are found in the Chronicle.
Another old book, the Novgorod First Chronicle, tells a slightly different story. It says Oleg was not related to Rurik. Instead, he was a Scandinavian prince who worked as Igor's army commander. This chronicle also says Oleg died in 922, not 912. Historians still study these different accounts to understand what truly happened.
The Legend of Oleg's Death
In the Primary Chronicle, Oleg is sometimes called "the Prophet." This name comes from his Norse name, which means "priest" or "holy." There's a famous legend about his death, which was even turned into a poem by Alexander Pushkin.
The story goes that pagan priests told Oleg he would die because of his favorite horse. To avoid this, Oleg sent his horse away. Many years later, he asked what happened to his horse and was told it had died. Oleg wanted to see its remains. When he touched the horse's skull with his boot, a snake slithered out and bit him! Oleg died from the snake bite, just as the prophecy had said.
This legend is a popular tale that shows how fate can be unavoidable. Similar stories can be found in other old legends from different cultures.
Different Historical Views
Some historians have found other old documents that talk about a Rus' warlord named Helgu. These documents suggest Helgu was active as late as the 940s. This is different from the Primary Chronicle, which says Oleg died in 912.
Because of these different accounts, some experts believe the early history of the Rus' might need to be re-examined. They suggest that perhaps Oleg didn't immediately follow Rurik. They also think there might have been a struggle for power between Oleg and Igor's supporters. The story of Oleg's death in some Arab histories also has similarities to these other accounts. This makes historians wonder if there were two different "Olegs" or if the timeline is simply mixed up.
See also
In Spanish: Oleg de Nóvgorod para niños
