Building a Myth: Testaments of the Kievan Rus’ Grand Princes as Origin Myths

Presenter Information

Elizabeth Seelye

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Campus where you would like to present

SURC Room 271

Start Date

15-5-2014

End Date

15-5-2014

Keywords

Kievan Rus, State Building, Legitimacy

Abstract

During the ninth through twelfth centuries, the Grand Princes of the Kievan Rus’ were locked in a internal struggle with the other Russian princes vying for top position in Russian hierarchy. Using their dynastic link to the semi-legendary Riurik and later connection to the Orthodox Church, the Grand Princes built off these connections to form a mythology that established religious and secular legitimacy and an imperial lineage to validate state power. This paper will demonstrate that the written legacy of the Grand Princes, when broken down into its basic elements, represents different formulas of the same dynastic myth.

Faculty Mentor(s)

Easley, Roxanne

Additional Mentoring Department

History

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May 15th, 10:00 AM May 15th, 10:20 AM

Building a Myth: Testaments of the Kievan Rus’ Grand Princes as Origin Myths

SURC Room 271

During the ninth through twelfth centuries, the Grand Princes of the Kievan Rus’ were locked in a internal struggle with the other Russian princes vying for top position in Russian hierarchy. Using their dynastic link to the semi-legendary Riurik and later connection to the Orthodox Church, the Grand Princes built off these connections to form a mythology that established religious and secular legitimacy and an imperial lineage to validate state power. This paper will demonstrate that the written legacy of the Grand Princes, when broken down into its basic elements, represents different formulas of the same dynastic myth.