Relations Between the East Frankish State and Kyivan Rus in the Tenth – Eleventh Centuries

Abstract

The research goal. The aim of this article is to study the nature of political relations between the East Frankish state and Kyivan Rus throughout the 10th and 11th centuries.

The research methodology. For this purpose, all connections of the rulers of the future German state with Rus rulers were presented in chronological order using all existing sources and historical interpretations.

Scientific novelty. The research has concluded that that during the period under consideration, there can be no question of continuous and uninterrupted relations between these political entities. This also applies to individual East Frankish monarchs who were uninterested in establishing lasting relations with Rus whose rulers were treated both as being fully independent and as having only nominally lower rank than the emperor. In the few cases where East Frankish – Rus contacts did take place, it was typical for both of the partners, especially in the 11th century, to initiate the contacts with each other over matters related to their policy towards the Polish state.

Conclusion. During the reign of the Saxon and the Salian dynasties in the East Frankish state, relations with Rus were not established until the period of Otto I which occurred for religious reasons. These relations were re-established after a fairly long break only during the reign of Henry II in connection with his policy towards Bolesław the Brave. From that moment the topic of Poland’s relations both with the Empire and Rus would appear in their bilateral relations until the end of the 11th century. During the rule of Henry II and Konrad II their relations with Kyivan Rus were focused on alliances formed against Bolesław the Brave and his successor Mieszko II. However, during his reign Henry III formed an alliance with Yaroslav the Wise with the aim of bringing back Casimir to the Polish throne. It can be said that during the reign of Henry IV the previous policy of using relations with Rus against Poland was resumed, which under the circumstances existing at the time, stood little chance of success, and besides this policy was efficiently thwarted by diplomatic efforts of Bolesław II the Generous. In this context, what is most striking is the exceptional passivity on the part of East Frankish rulers towards Rus as it was probably just Henry II that came up with the proposal of entering into some alliance.