Dobrynya
Dobrynja (* around 940 (?); † after 988) was an uncle of Vladimir the Great and governor of Novgorod (968/978 – after 988).
Life
The portrayal of his person in old Russian chronicles does not allow a clear picture of him. His year of birth is not known, the origin is uncertain (maybe Volhynia?). He was the brother of Maluscha , Vladimir's mother. He was a servant ("Klyuchnik") at the court of Svyatoslav I.
Around 968 he is said to have recommended Svyatoslav to give the rule of Novgorod to the actually not befitting Vladimir. Dobrynja then went to Novgorod as a voivode.
Around 978 he is said to have urged Vladimir to move to Kiev against Jaropolk. He is also said to be responsible for the fact that Vladimir raped the princess' daughter Rogneda in front of her parents and then killed them. After the conquest of Kiev, he became Vladimir's governor in Novgorod. In 985 he moved with this against the Volga Bulgarians .
An old Russian proverb says that he should have pursued the Christianization of Novgorod “with fire”. There is no other credible information about his life.
progeny
His son Koznyatin was governor of Novgorod around 1018.
aftermath
Dobrynja was probably the template for byliny dobrynya nikitich the Bylinendichtung the 13th century.
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Dobrynya |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Добрыня (Russian) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Governor of Novgorod |
| DATE OF BIRTH | uncertain: around 940 |
| DATE OF DEATH | after 988 |