The Image of Prince Vladimir Monomakh in N. M. Karamzin’s “History of the Russian State”

Abstract

Using the narrative of Vladimir Monomakh as an example, this article analyzes N. M. Karamzin’s key approaches to chronicle information, which he used in writing “The History of the Russian State.” The prince’s life is widely reflected in ancient Russian historical works, and comparing these sources with Karamzin’s text allowed the author to reach significant conclusions. It is demonstrated that the writer reproduced, through retelling and sometimes translation, virtually all the facts of Monomakh’s life and his speeches presented in the oldest chronicles, supplementing them with material from other works, including “The Instruction to Children.” Moreover, the historiographer reflected on each event from a moral perspective, highlighting the prince’s most important qualities. This led to a strengthening of the emotional and evaluative element and an expanded system of tropes characterizing the hero. At the same time, unlike sources that idealize the prince, Karamzin created a more multifaceted character. The writer showed not only the positive, but also the negative aspects of Vladimir Monomakh’s activities and their consequences, which, from the author’s point of view, were justified by the worldview of the distant era.