Introduction
After the death of his father Yuri Dolgoruky, Prince of Kiev, in 1157, Andrey Bogolubsky, Prince of Vladimir, Rostov and Suzdal, began to pursue his dream of ruling all Rus’. He drove Prince Mstislav II from Kiev in 1169, and in February 1170 a little matter of unpaid tribute gave him an excuse to besiege Mstislav’s son Roman in the historic city of Veliky Novgorod.
IN the winter of 1169, Andrey Bogolubsky, Prince of Vladimir, Rostov and Suzdal, sent to Novgorod in the northwest for their customary tribute. His tax-gatherers were violent, however, and not only did the people of Novgorod defend themselves with surprising determination, but they also raided the enemy camp and took back their treasure.
So the following February Andrey despatched his son Mstislav,* in command of a large army recruited from four duchies under his governance, to lay siege to the historic city. The Novgorodians hastily strengthened their fortifications, and huddled together in the city gaol; meanwhile Andrey’s noblemen, encamped before the gates, were poring over a street map, working out in a most friendly manner how they would share out Novgorod’s districts after they had won.
Not every citizen of Novgorod was quivering in the cells, however. The second night of the siege found Archbishop John,* about whom many strange tales are told, praying fervently in his cathedral before an icon of Christ.
The names can be confusing. Andrey’s sons were Yuri, Mstislav and Gleb. Mstislav II of Kiev also had three sons, Roman, Sviatoslav and Vsevolod. This Mstislav defeated Andrey’s father Yuri Dolgoruky in 1156, and the following year took his crown as Prince of Kiev. But in 1169, Andrey tasted revenge, deposing Mstislav and briefly putting his brother, also called Gleb, on the Kievan throne. Moreover, in 1172 Andrey’s son Yuri, consort of the famous Queen Tamar of Georgia, became Prince of Novgorod in place of Roman.
St John was Archbishop of Novgorod from 1165 to his death in 1186. His feast day is September 7th.
Précis
In 1170, Russian prince Andrey Bogolubsky sent his son Mstislav to besiege the city of Novgorod, as punishment for withholding their customary tribute. Mstislav had four armies at his disposal, and the terrified citizens could only huddle in the city gaol to await their fate. But their Archbishop, John, remained steadfastly at prayer in his cathedral. (56 / 60 words)
In 1170, Russian prince Andrey Bogolubsky sent his son Mstislav to besiege the city of Novgorod, as punishment for withholding their customary tribute. Mstislav had four armies at his disposal, and the terrified citizens could only huddle in the city gaol to await their fate. But their Archbishop, John, remained steadfastly at prayer in his cathedral.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, besides, despite, may, not, ought, whereas, whether.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
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