Latin in medieval Kyiv: the outline of history of a royal family in the context of its international contacts

Abstract

Kyivan Rus’ had extensive political, economic and cultural connections with other European states. Knowledge of foreign languages, the Latin language in particular, was in demand to maintain these connections. The article outlines the context in which the Latin literature in medieval Kyiv emerged and also the spheres where the Latin language was used. The history of one ruling family, Prince Iziaslav of Kyiv, Princess Gertruda of Kyiv, their son Prince Yaropolk and daughter-in-law Cunigunda, is preserved in texts and artefacts. Primary and secondary sources as well as the sphragistic data, related to international contacts of the family with Pope Gregory VII, the Papal legates, Duke Bolesław II the Bold of Poland and King of Germany Heinrich IV, provide facts of usage of Latin by the Kyivan royals. The article analyses usage of Latin in foreign relations of Kyiv and in literature of the second half of the 11th century. The Latin language was used in Kyivan Rus’ in the second half of the 11th century in literature (prayers, religious poetry and chants), votive inscriptions, in administration (seals) and ecclesiastic and foreign correspondence.