Gordiyenko D. The Byzantium-Rus' Relations during Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus' (912-959) Ruling in the Byzantium Foreign Policy

The research of the Byzantium-Rus' relations during Constantine Porphyrogenitus' ruling is revealed in the dissertation. Basing on the results of the historiography of the problem it is discovered that the relations between the two states from the Byzantine point of view were investigated only fragmentary. In order to explore the Byzantium-Rus' relations in this key the wide range of sources, first of all Greek and Latin, are described in the dissertation. The image of Constantine VII as a weak political leader is invalidated in the research. The domestic policy components which influenced deeply the imperial foreign policy are identified. The Byzantium as a Medieval world state produced a corresponding foreign policy doctrine, which had its greatest development in the times of Constantine VII. The Empire was considered as the only "true" state, and its emperor - the ruler of the world. The Byzantine religious mission, which had started to operate since the times of Photios in the Northern Black Sea region, assisted to the fulfillment of this aim. The general foreign policy situation of Byzantium in the first half of the X century is analyzed in order to determine the place of the Kyivan state in the foreign policy system. Despite the fact that traditionally the relations with the Arab countries were prioritized for the Empire, the great attention of the Constantinople's government is drawn to the Northern region, first of all to the opposition with Simeon, in the first half of the X century. The formation of the Kyivan state as a subject and an object of the foreign policy is determined. It is discovered that in the very first half of the X century the roses from the distinct military gangs formations of varangians, who controlled this or that territory, came to the state formations, which had its special development in the times of Princess Ol'ga's ruling. This process was actively supported by the relations with the Byzantium, which was specially expressed in the conclusion of interstate treaties in 911 and 944. Starting form the formation of early Rus' - Kyivan state the Byzantium starts to orientate on Rus' as a potential associate in the Northern Black Sea Region. Actually the texts of the treaties and the data of the 9th chapter of the Constantine Porphyrogenitus' treatise "De Administrando imperio" show that Rus' became the important factor of the foreign policy and foreign safety of the state. The foreign trade relations between Byzantium and Rus' are also analized from the point of view of the economical safety. At the times of Constantine VII the unique visit to the Constantinople of the ruler of Rus' Princess Ol'ga took place. Constantine Pophyrogenitus Ex silentio argument about the baptizing of Ol'ga in the Constantinople is invalidated in the dissertation. Thus for the first time in the historiography the exact date of the baptizing of the Kyivan Princess is ascertained, which was in the night from 17 to 18 of October AD 957. According to this the very baptizing took place in the Constantinople. The result of this visit was the activization of Rus' in the Southern Eastern direction in order to conquer the Kyiv's East Slavic territories and the establishing the contacts with the Germany of Otto I, where for the first time the Polish factor of the foreign policy of Rus' was introduced in the middle of the X century. These steps of Kyiv are analyzed from the point of view of the Byzantium policy which determined the common interest of Ol'ga and Otto.