The Krivichi Monument

Krivichi is an ancient East Slavic tribe, or rather, the union of tribes in the early Middle Ages (VI-X centuries). They are considered the founders of the city of Polotsk, and the centers of their residence were Smolensk and Izborsk. The woman in the boat is Princess Rogneda, the child is her son Izyaslav, the rest are vigilantes accompanying them.

Rogneda was exiled by her husband, Kiev prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, along with her son Izyaslav, to her native Polotsk after an unsuccessful attempt on the life of the prince.

The tragic fate of the beautiful princess is described in the “Tale of Bygone Years”. Two brothers Yaropolk (Prince of Kiev) and Vladimir (Prince of Novgorod) asked for the hand of Polovtska Princess Rogneda. She accepted the offer of Yaropolk, Vladimir was struck by the refusal. During his campaign on Kiev, he came to Polotsk, killed Rogneda’s father, forcibly took her as his wife, after which he killed Yaropolk in Kiev and became Prince of Kiev. After that, Rogneda received the name Goreslav. After 7 years, she tried to avenge the death of loved ones and kill Vladimir, but she failed. In anger, the prince decided to execute his own unruly wife and raised a sword over her head. But at this moment, their son Izyaslav ran and defended his mother with a sword in his hands. Vladimir did not commit a crime with his son, and on the advice of the boyar exiled them both to the “homeland” of Rogneda – Polotsk.

Izyaslav became the ruler of Polotsk, who was then called Izyaslavl, from him went the family of rulers Izyaslavich Polotsky.