Editing Primary Chronicle (section)

=== Chronology ===
The chronology offered by the ''Primary Chronicle'' (''PVL'') is sometimes at odds with that of other documents such as the ''[[Novgorod First Chronicle]]'' (''NPL'') and [[Byzantine literature]].{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=40–43}} Sometimes the ''Primary Chronicle'' also contradicts itself, especially between narrative and chronological parts, which appear to have been written by two different authors.{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=44–45}} Several scholars including [[Aleksey Shakhmatov]] (1897), [[Mikhail Tikhomirov]] (1960), Ia. S. Lur’e (1970), and [[Constantin Zuckerman]] (1995) have concluded that the 9th- and 10th-century dates mentioned in the ''PVL'' were not added to the text until the 11th century, unless directly copied from the ''Chronicle'' of [[George Hamartolos|George the Monk]].{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=43–44}}

==== Opening date error ====
The historical period covered in the ''Tale of Bygone Years'' begins with [[biblical times]], in the introductory portion of the text, and concludes with the year 1117 in the chronicle's third edition. Russian philologist [[Aleksey Shakhmatov]] was the first one to discover early on that the chronology of the ''Primary Chronicle'' opens with an error. The ''Laurentian'' text of the ''Chronicle'' says: "In the year 6360 (852), the fifteenth of the indiction, at the accession of the Emperor Michael, the land of Rus' was first named".{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|pp=24, 58}} It is thus claimed that the reign of Byzantine emperor [[Michael III]] began in this year, but Byzantine sources (such as 11th-century Greek historian [[John Skylitzes]]' account<ref>{{cite book | last1=Skylitzes|  first1=John | translator-last=Wortley | translator-first=John |title=John Skylitzes: A Synopsis of Byzantine History, 811–1057: Translation and Notes | doi=10.1017/CBO9780511779657 | isbn=9780511779657 | publisher=Cambridge University Press | location=Cambridge, MA | year=2010}}</ref> ) point out that it began on 21 January 842.{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=30}}{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=44}} Shakhmatov (1897) demonstrated that an editor based himself on a miscalculation found in the ''Short History'' of [[Nikephoros I of Constantinople]].{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=30}}{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=44}} Moreover, a few sentences later, the text states: 'from the birth of Christ to Constantine, 318 years; and from Constantine to Michael, 542 years. Twenty-nine years passed between the first year of Michael's reign and the accession of Oleg, Prince of Rus'.'{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=58–59}}{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=44}} However, [[Constantine the Great]] acceded in 313, not 318, and the resulting sum of 318+542 years leads to another erroneous accession of Michael III, this time in 860.{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=30}}{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=44}} This then leads to an internal contradiction, when "Michael the Emperor" is said to have mounted a campaign against the Bulgars in 853–858 (6361–6366),{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=59}} which could not have happened before he became Byzantine emperor in 860 according to the latter accession date.{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=44}}

==== Major events ====
Chronology of major events:{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=}}{{pn|date=May 2023}}
* '''852''' (6360): The principal date mentioned in the ''Primary Chronicle'', when the land of Rus' was first named in the Greek chronicle of [[George Hamartolos]]; this is evidence that the compiler used it as one of the sources for the ''Primary Chronicle''.{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=24}}
* '''859''': 'The Varangians from beyond the sea imposed tribute upon the [[Chud]]s, the Slavs, the [[Merians]], the Ves', and the [[Krivichs|Krivichians]]. But the [[Khazars]] imposed it upon the [[Polans (eastern)|Polyanians]], the [[Severians]], and the Vyatichians'.{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=59}}
* '''862''': The [[calling of the Varangians]]. The various tributaries of the Varangians attempted to rid themselves of the Varangian lordship, which led to quarrels among the tribes and culminated in them inviting a ''[[knyaz]]'' ("prince") from the Varangians to rule over them.{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=59}}{{npsn|date=June 2023}} As a result, the three Varangian brothers [[Rurik]], [[Sineus and Truvor]] and their kinsfolk crossed the sea and settled themselves in various localities, and it is claimed that it was after these Varangians that the land of Rus' would eventually be named.{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=60}}{{npsn|date=June 2023}} Around the same time, two other Varangians called [[Askold and Dir]] captured the town of Kiev.{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=60}}{{npsn|date=June 2023}}
* '''866''' (6374): The [[Siege of Constantinople (860)]] by Rus' forces. According to Byzantine sources, this happened in 860, not 866.{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=32}}{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=32}}
* '''881/2'''  (6390): Rurik's successor, [[Oleg of Novgorod|Oleg]], sent messengers to Askold and Dir, representing himself as a stranger on his way to Greece on an errand for Oleg and for Igor', the prince's son, requesting a meeting. He then ambushed Askold and Dir, saying: "You are not princes nor even of princely stock, but I am of princely birth." Igor' was then brought forward, and Oleg announced that he was the son of Rurik. They killed Askold and Dir, and after carrying them to the hill, they buried them there, on the hill now known as Uhorska (Hungarian hill), where the castle of Ol'ma now stands.'{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=61}} Then 'Oleg set himself up as prince in Kiev'{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=44}} ({{langx|cu|къняжа въ Киеве|translit=kŭnyaza vŭ Kyeve}}{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=44}}) 'and declared that it should be the mother of Rus' cities.'{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=61}} According to the text's aforementioned chronology of Oleg's accession 29 years after Michael III in 860, Oleg's reign should have begun in 889 rather than 881/2.{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=44}}
* '''883''': Prince Oleg conquers the [[Drevlians|Derevlians]].{{cn|date=February 2023}}
* '''884–885''': Prince Oleg defeats the Radimichians and the Severians, bringing them under his rule.{{cn|date=February 2023}}
* '''907''': Prince Oleg launched an incursion against the Greeks, resulting in [[Rus'–Byzantine Treaty (907)|a favorable treaty]] for Rus'. The Greek emperor Leo conceded to provide allowances for Oleg's men, award them a right to stay and trade in Constantinople free of tax, and to enter unconditional peace. This event is not mentioned in Byzantine sources.{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=32}}
* '''912''': After Oleg's prophetic death from a snakebite, prince Igor succeeded him as the ruler of Rus' and was neither “successful in his military campaigns nor popular with people.”{{cn|date=February 2023}} According to the ''Novgorod First Chronicle'', Oleg died in 922; if Oleg (Helgi) is the same person as HLGW, "king of the Rus'", in the ''[[Schechter Letter|Genizah Letter]]'', he would still have been alive in the 940s.{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=42–43}}
* '''Ca. 945''': Prince Igor was murdered in the act of uprising by the Derevlians. His wife [[Olga of Kiev|Olga]] assumed the throne following her husband's death and brought revenge upon Igor's murderers. Some of the Derevlians were burned in their homes, others were buried alive, while the remaining were simply slaughtered. Olga later ruled as a regent for her young son [[Sviatoslav I of Kiev|Svyatoslav]], who went on to have an extensive military career as an adult, venturing East against the Khazars and the Bulgars.{{cn|date=June 2023}}
* '''972''':  Svyatoslav was killed in a Pecheneg ambush while returning from one of his frequent campaigns against the Greeks.{{cn|date=June 2023}}
* '''973''': The reign of [[Yaropolk I of Kiev|Yaropolk]] began and was complicated by quarrels with his two brothers, [[Oleg of Drelinia|Oleg]] and [[Vladimir the Great|Vladimir]].{{cn|date=June 2023}}
* '''978–980''': Yaropolk proved himself victorious against his brother Oleg but died at the hands of men of his other brother Vladimir. After inheriting the throne, Vladimir initially upheld pagan practices and worshipped [[Perun]].{{cn|date=June 2023}}
* '''986–988''': The [[conversion of Volodimer]]: Vladimir was baptized into [[Orthodoxy]], which later became referred to as the "Baptism of Rus'" because it was followed by a widespread [[Christianization of Kievan Rus']].{{cn|date=June 2023}} The entire conversion story covers a large chunk of the ''Primary Chronicle'': pages 84–121, or 37 out of a total of 286 pages (12.9%) of the entire text.{{sfn|Ostrowski|Birnbaum|2014|loc=0.1–286, 7pp}}
* '''1015''': Following Vladimir's death, [[Sviatopolk I of Kiev|Svyatopolk]] inherited the title of the Prince of Kiev and became known as [[Svyatopolk the Accursed]] for his violent actions towards his siblings.{{cn|date=June 2023}}
* '''1019''': Svyatopolk was overthrown by his brother [[Yaroslav the Wise]], whose reign brought an end to the unified kingdom of Rus but laid the foundation for the development of the written tradition in the [[Kievan Rus']].{{cn|date=June 2023}}
* '''1054''': After Yaroslav's death, the kingdom was split into five princedoms with [[Izyaslav I|Izyaslav]] ruling in Kiev, [[Svyatoslav of Chernigov|Svyatoslav]] in [[Chernihiv|Chernigov]], [[Igor Yaroslavich|Igor]] in [[Principality of Volhynia|Volodymyr]], [[Vsevolod I of Kiev|Vsevolod]] in [[Pereiaslav]], and [[Rostislav of Tmutarakan|Rostislav]] in [[Tmutarakan]]’.{{cn|date=June 2023}}
* '''1076''': Vsevolod held a victory over his four rivals and became the [[Grand Prince of Kiev]].{{cn|date=June 2023}}
* '''1093''': After Vsevolod’s death, [[Sviatopolk II of Kiev|Svyatopolk]] reigned over the Kievan Rus.{{cn|date=June 2023}}
* '''1113''': Rise to power of [[Vladimir II Monomakh|Vladimir Monomakh]], whose religious testament and prayers were appended at the end of the ''Chronicle'' by monk [[Sylvester of Kiev|Sylvester]], working from [[St. Michael's Monastery|St. Michael’s monastery]] in 1116.{{cn|date=June 2023}}