The reasons for this close union are easy to see in the fact that they were siblings, therefore, their interests were closely related. In addition, the very geographical position of the Smolensk and Vievskaya volosts, both in military and trade terms, supported the need for a shadowy military alliance of the two brothers. It was the main point of trade for all of southern Russia, and goods from Greece and Greek countries on the Black Sea coast also flocked here. From here, goods were distributed throughout Rus' and especially a lot went to the rich and commercial Novgorod, which in turn supplied southern goods to the Wild Rus', neighboring Nogorod, the Volzhek Khazars, and especially the very lively trade with the German cities. Smolensk lay on the path of these two arteries of ancient Russia. He himself took an active part in trade, especially in trade. Therefore, the interests of Smolensk were inextricably linked with the interests of Eva and Novgorod. Peaceful relations with the northern and southern points of trade activity of the then Russian country, naturally, should have reflected favorably on Smolensk. Therefore, we see that the princes of Smolensk always maintain a close alliance with Novgorod and Vlev, it is obvious that they value this alliance; it was not in the interests of the Smolensk prince to maintain peaceful relations with the distant and poor Suzdal volost, located completely away from the main trade road at that time - Dn%fpra,
EGINNING. KhPG St. 105
especially when maintaining such peaceful relations could serve as a reason for a break with Yuev and Novgorod, which was connected with him.
In addition, the military position of Smolensk demanded peaceful relations with Yuev. To the south of the Smolensk land, especially during the Dnfir, the main trading points were concentrated, this same side was densely populated, and, fortunately, in the event of military defeat on this side, the Smolensk region was paid with the best and most important part of its estates. Between the TBM on the eastern borders, adjacent to the domains of Yuri Suzdalskato and his allies, precisely along the rivers of Protv$ and Ugra, this region of Krivichi was sparsely populated and, moreover, barren, with a great lack of trading points.
And then we see that three mainly circumstances kept Rostislav in an alliance with his brother Izyaslav: family ties, trade and military status of the Smolensk Krivichi; In addition, we must also add here the nature of the reign of Prince Rostislav, which will be discussed further.
During the subsequent struggle of the princes over the Cleves table, the Smolensk principality was in more favorable conditions, compared to other Russian regions; it was not at all subject to the invasions and devastation that all the Russians experienced when they destroyed the land. Twice only the eastern, i.e., its poorest outskirts, were attacked. Precisely, at the very beginning of the struggle, by order of Yuri, Svyatoslav Olgovich devastated the upper reaches of the Protva, where the small people of Golyad lived 19); this Golyad was all taken to PlZn by the army of Svyatoslav (1147). Another time, in the same year, the steppe inhabitants of the Polovtsians and Taksobichs, under the command of the governors Sudemir Kuchebich and Gorn, lost from the invasion of the upper reaches of the Ugra 20). There were no more raids on the land of Smolny.
19) John, 240. In agreement with the Prussian Golinds, the Smolensk Golyad on Protv is usually considered related to this Lithuanian tribe. But no one can prove how the Lithuanians could have gotten there, because the sources do not give any information, see for example. Solovyova, East. State Ross. t. 1, p. 77. Barsova, Och. r. ist. g., r. 48, etc. To build such a conclusion on consonance alone, it seems to us, is too bold; most likely, Golyadya was the name given to purely Krivichsky metethnost.