Editing Yaroslav the Wise (section)

==Rise to the throne==
{{Main article|Bolesław I's intervention in the Kievan succession crisis}}
[[File:Yaroslav I of Russia (Granovitaya palata, 1881-2).jpg|thumb|upright|A depiction of Yaroslav the Wise from [[Palace of Facets|Granovitaya Palata]]]]
The early years of Yaroslav's life are mostly unknown. He was one of the numerous sons of [[Vladimir the Great]], presumably his second by [[Rogneda of Polotsk]],<ref>''Yaroslav the Wise in Norse Tradition'', Samuel Hazzard Cross, '''Speculum''', Vol. 4, No. 2 (Apr., 1929), 177.</ref> although his actual age (as stated in the ''[[Primary Chronicle]]'' and corroborated by the examination of his [[skeleton]] in the 1930s)<ref>''Perkhavko VB, Sukharev Yu. V.'' Warriors of Russia IX-XIII centuries. - <abbr>M</abbr> .: Veche, 2006. - P. 64. - ISBN 5-9533-1256-3.</ref> would place him among the youngest children of Vladimir.<ref name="ReferenceA">''Arrignon J. —P.'' Les relations diplomatiques entre Bizance et la Russie de 860 à 1043 // Revue des études slaves. - 1983 .-- T. 55 . - S. 133-135 .</ref>

It has been suggested that [[Family life and children of Vladimir I#Yaroslav's parentage|he was a child begotten out of wedlock]] after Vladimir's divorce from Rogneda and marriage to [[Anna Porphyrogenita]], or even that he was a child of Anna Porphyrogenita herself. French historian [[:fr:Jean-Pierre Arrignon|Jean-Pierre Arrignon]] argues that he was indeed Anna's son, as this would explain his interference in Byzantine affairs in 1043.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> William Humphreys also favors a reconstruction making Yaroslav the son, rather than the step-son, of Anna, by invoking [[onomastic]] arguments. It is curious that Yaroslav named his elder son [[Vladimir of Novgorod|Vladimir]] (after his own father) and one of his daughters [[Anne of Kiev|Anna]] (as if after his own mother). There is a certain pattern in his sons having Slavic names, and his daughters having Greek names only.<ref name=":0">William Humphreys, "Agatha, mother of St. Margaret: the Slavic versus the Salian solutions - a critical overview", ''Foundations'', 1(1):31-43; Joseph Edwards, "Editorial", ''Foundations'', 1(2):74; William Humphreys, "Agatha ‘the Greek’ – Exploring the Slavic solution", ''Foundations'', 1(4):275-288.</ref> Furthermore, Yaroslav's maternity by [[Rogneda of Polotsk]] had been questioned by [[Mykola Kostomarov]] in the 19th century.<ref>Kuzmin A. G. ''Initial stages of the Old Russian annals.'' - <abbr>M</abbr> .: Press of Moscow State University, 1977. - pp. 275-276. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123237/http://hbar.phys.msu.ru/gorm/chrono/kuzmin.htm Archived] March 4, 2016 at the [[Wayback Machine]].</ref><ref>[[Mykola Kostomarov|Kostomarov, Mykola]]. ''Russian history in the biographies of its main figures''. - <abbr>M.</abbr> , 1991 .-- S. 8.</ref><ref>Kuzmin A. G. ''Yaroslav the Wise // Great statesmen of Russia''. - <abbr>M.</abbr> , 1996 .-- S. 26.</ref>  

Yaroslav figures prominently in the Norse [[saga]]s under the name '''Jarisleif the Lame'''; his legendary lameness (probably resulting from an arrow wound) was corroborated by the scientists who examined his remains.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

In his youth, Yaroslav was sent by his father to rule the northern lands around [[Rostov, Yaroslavl Oblast|Rostov]]. He was transferred to Veliky Novgorod,<ref name="Cross178">''Yaroslav the Wise in Norse Tradition'', Samuel Hazzard Cross, '''Speculum''', 178.</ref> as befitted a senior heir to the throne, in 1010. While living there, he founded the town of [[Yaroslavl]] (literally, "Yaroslav's") on the [[Volga River]]. His relations with his father were apparently strained,<ref name="Cross178"/> and grew only worse on the news that Vladimir bequeathed the Kievan throne to his younger son, [[Boris and Gleb|Boris]]. In 1014 Yaroslav refused to pay tribute to Kiev and only Vladimir's death, in July 1015, prevented a war.<ref name="Cross178"/>

During the next four years Yaroslav waged a complicated and bloody war for Kiev against his half-brother [[Sviatopolk I of Kiev]], who was supported by his father-in-law, Duke [[Bolesław I the Brave]] ([[List of Polish monarchs|King of Poland]] from 1025).<ref name="Cross179">''Yaroslav the Wise in Norse Tradition'', Samuel Hazzard Cross, '''Speculum''', 179.</ref> During the course of this struggle, several other brothers ([[Boris and Gleb|Boris, Gleb]], and Svyatoslav) were brutally murdered.<ref name="Cross179"/><ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-10-07|title=Princes Boris and Gleb|url=http://www.roca.org/OA/76-77/76s.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007191902/http://www.roca.org/OA/76-77/76s.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-10-07|access-date=2020-06-12}}</ref> The ''[[Primary Chronicle]]'' accused Sviatopolk of planning those murders.<ref name="Cross179"/> The saga {{lang|non|[[Eymundar þáttr hrings]]}} is often interpreted as recounting the story of Boris' assassination by the [[Varangians]] in the service of Yaroslav.

However, the victim's name is given there as ''Burizaf'', which is also a name of Boleslaus I in the Scandinavian sources. It is thus possible that the Saga tells the story of Yaroslav's struggle against Sviatopolk (whose troops were commanded by the Polish duke), and not against Boris.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

Yaroslav defeated Sviatopolk in their first battle, in 1016, and Sviatopolk fled to Poland.<ref name="Cross179"/> Sviatopolk returned in 1018 with Polish troops furnished by his father-in-law, seized [[Kiev]],<ref name="Cross179"/> and pushed Yaroslav back into [[Novgorod]]. Yaroslav prevailed over Sviatopolk, and in 1019 firmly established his rule over Kiev.<ref>''Yaroslav the Wise in Norse Tradition'', Samuel Hazzard Cross, '''Speculum''', 180.</ref> One of his first actions as a grand prince was to confer on the loyal Novgorodians, who had helped him to gain the Kievan throne, numerous freedoms and privileges.

Thus, the foundation of the [[Novgorod Republic]] was laid. For their part, the Novgorodians respected Yaroslav more than they did other Kievan princes; and the princely residence in their city, next to the marketplace (and where the {{transliteration|ru|[[veche]]}} often convened) was named [[Yaroslav's Court]] after him. It probably was during this period that Yaroslav promulgated the first code of laws in the lands of the [[East Slavs]], the {{transliteration|orv|[[Russkaya Pravda]]}}.