To the Question of the Works of Borisoglebian Cycle as Historical Sources

Abstract

The article considers the reliability of the news contained in the texts of the Borisoglebian cycle, in which Svyatopolk the Cursed is described as a murderer of Boris and Gleb. The truth of this news aroused and raises doubts among a number of historians who are inclined to consider this version of the events of the death of at least Boris falsified either during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise or in times of his sons. Scientists — supporters of the ‘conspirological’ hypothesis believe that the real killer of at least Boris was in fact Yaroslav the Wise. In their opinion, the truth is preserved in the Icelandic text — Strand about Eymond son of Hring (Eymunder páttr Hringssomur), which tells about the murder of the Russian king Buritslav (identified by these historians with B ris) on the orders of his brother Yaritsleiv (Yaroslav the Wise). The article first of all considers the arguments put forward by one of the supporters of this hypothesis K.A. Kostromin. It is proved that Svyatopolk had real reasons for killing of Boris and Gleb, and that there is no obvious speculation and contradictions in the works of the Borisoglebian cycle that testify to their unreliability.