When Moscow was not there

Exclusive. During the heyday of the Kievan state, there was no Moscow. And where could it come from among the impassable forests and deep swamps of the North, on lands that the warriors of Vladimir and Yaroslav had only just begun to master!? And people lived in harmony, in related work - some plowed the land, some knew crafts, some served in the army, some stood at the altar, and some reigned and owned.

Sometimes the Rus' fought with the Pechenegs - and how could they not, wars raged everywhere! - but in general life was calm and peaceful. The people trusted the rulers, did not rebel, and it is not surprising that Vladimir, and - after him - Yaroslav reigned for thirty-five years each. Much can be said about their virtues, but then a whole book would be published, and this is already written about in the annals and chronicles.

But that's not what this is about.

Not exactly about that.

From time to time, the malevolent Pechenegs sent agents to Kyiv to promote the idea of ​​a fix – to build Moscow amidst the impenetrable northern thickets. It seemed like pure nonsense – who needs a city amidst the cold and snow! But no, more and more often the Pecheneg envoys went to the prince, asking for permission to build. And the prince thought to himself: “They are planning something. They cannot defeat Russia on the battlefield, so they resort to tricks. Build a fortress? But where – there, where there is no one to fight with and no way? They are planning something bad. But what exactly? Give them Moscow, let them be Greek.”

And the prince read in an old book that Moscow would become a new incarnation of Meshech – an ancient people who always wanted to fight. Not to defend their land, not to stand for truth and honor, not to return what was once theirs – but to fight constantly. To fight to fight. To conquer and destroy everything in its path. To become, so to speak, the third Rome.

So that's what the damned Pechenegs wanted! To find an accomplice who would destroy Kyiv and conquer Russia. But not to be! "As long as I live," the prince claimed, "there will be no Moscow in my principality!" But the Pecheneg ambassadors kept coming and coming. But the prince was firm: "Not even I myself - although I have the right to do so - but my guards from the Princely Geocadastre will not give the Muscovites permission to build. And the Princely Inspectorate will not allow them to spoil the untouched nature of the North, cut down forests and drain swamps!" And the envoys returned to their khan with nothing.

And soon the brave troops of Yaroslav the Wise utterly defeated the Pecheneg army. And the prince ordered the construction of St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, and he placed his entire state under the protection of the Mother of God. And after that, for a long time, no formidable nomads attacked the Russian land.

The glorious princes of Kiev understood very well what Moscow would bring to the state and the people – just build it. Neither Vladimir the Great, nor Yaroslav the Wise, nor Vladimir Monomakh allowed it to be built. Because they knew the consequences.

But later, discord began to grow between the prince's sons, each of whom wanted a better throne, for which the brothers fought fiercely among themselves. If we were to wage internecine strife, wouldn't it be better to all go together against the Mongols, who were just growing in power, and stop them forever somewhere near the Urals? But no, everyone began to strive for their own, not the common good.

And eventually, the Kievan state broke up into separate principalities, which often fought among themselves and were unable to adequately resist common enemies. And soon the Mongols moved into Russia and conquered most of the principalities. And they began to give labels for reign to some worthless princes, "the bad great-grandchildren of the glorious great-grandfathers."

And one of them – outwardly handsome, stocky, long-armed – did build Moscow.

What happened next – we know from history textbooks, and recently we have learned from our own bitter experience. For centuries, the northern Meshech has been fighting incessantly, but “winning” not so much by military force as by cunning and deceit. How did they beg for the patriarchate from Constantinople? How did they get their hands on the Kiev Metropolis? And how did they steal their ancient name – Rus’ – from the Ukrainians? And, having dressed in the robes of their victim, they became “dispersed” for the whole world, without actually climbing out of the swamps of savagery and ignorance.

More than four hundred years ago, Sahaidachny almost took Moscow. He would have taken it, but Warsaw wouldn't let him. And now our victorious warriors are ready to neutralize Moscow - but Washington and Brussels won't let them.

Or maybe it's time to think and act in our own way, without looking back at today's "strategic partners"? Only then will we be respected in the world. This is how we will make Rus-Ukraine great again, as in the glorious times of the princely states of Old Kiev. Moscua delenda est! Amen

Andriy Kurbsky, for Newssky