in the same year to Smolensk, and then the Novtorodtsy turned to his brother, the famous Mstislav. The latter did not agree for a long time, but finally gave in to the requests of the residents and the beliefs of the brothers. 1) His short time on the new table was dedicated to the successful campaign against Chud and Polotsk; the last one was stopped by the intercession of Roman. But in internal affairs, this prince was faithful to the traditions of his predecessors: after his death, the citizens took away the mayorship from Zavid Nerevinich, 136) the son of that Nerevin, whom the Novgorodians killed for intercourse with Svyatoslav. Thus, Mstislav also belonged to the same boyar party as his predecessors.
In the same 1148, Metislav Rostislavich died. The southern chronicle, which generally has great sympathy for the Rostislavichs, describes the deep sadness of the Novgorodians over the loss of the prince, but the northern one only dryly reports about this event. However, the story of the southern book is distinguished by rhetoric, although it is quite truthful, since this warrior-prince was better known in the south. 137)
For some time Novgorod passed into the hands of the Olgovichs of Chernihiv, who used his help in the fight against David of Smolensky, who defended Drutsk. 138) But David was in an alliance with Vsevolod of Rostov, and the Novgorodians cruelly paid by destroying Torzhok for the alliance with the Olgovichs. 19) This forced them to turn again to the Rostislavichs, namely to David, with an invitation to the princess; The Prince of Smolensk sent his son Mstislav there. `) But this representative is already the third
136) Novgorod, 156.
137) Novgorod, 156; This is how Ipat describes this prince. chronicle: "all the multitude of Novgorod mourned over him, and the strong and thin, and the beggars, and the wretched, and the Black Risot®, 0% 60 mercy for all the poor; and so they went into their homes. This thieves' prince Mstislav, son of Rostislavl, middle age 0%, and with his face, and with all goodness, he is adorned and well-behaved, and he has love for everyone, and is more diligent than alms, the monastery® watches over, comforting the monks.... For being kind to the squad, and the imfnia does not spare and does not collect gold or silver, but gives to his squads.... not 0% 60 tubes lands in Rus', which neither wants nor loves him, but is always yearning for a great deed,” p. 414.
139) Novgorod, 156.
140) Novgorod, 159.
The generation of Smolensk princes adhered to the old policy of their predecessors, supporting their boyar party to the detriment of other elements of the population. The Novgorodians were dissatisfied with him, there was obviously a lively struggle between the parties, the result of which was that the already mentioned adherent of the Smolensk princes Zavid Nerevenich, having again taken up the mayorship, had to retire to David in Smolensk, No. 1) and his brother Gavrilo was killed in a fight with some Vyacha Svenich. 14?) The greatest consequence of the couple’s struggle was that in 1187 the Novgorod prince himself was “kicked out.” No. 3)
From this time on, Novgorod became more and more dependent on Suzdal, and the influence of the Smolensk princes decreased, especially with the death of David.
In relation to Polotsk, the policy of the Rostislavichs strives to subjugate and strengthen their control over the various destinies of this land, helping one or the other of the princes, and, perhaps, creating enmity between them. David, who was the main representative of the Smolensk princes in their relations with the Polotsk princes, not only tried to maintain the desire over this land that his father had achieved, but also used even more.
We have already seen that David went to Vitebsk in 1165, and by the end of the 11th century. this prince constantly interfered in the affairs of Polotsk, supported the table of Vseslav Vasilkovich in opposition to other contenders, etc. We leave the question of Polotsk-Smolensk relations, so as not to repeat ourselves, until the next chapter.
141) Novgor., 160. 142) Novgor., 161. 143) Novgor., 162.
Let us now turn to the fate of the Polotsk land.