Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/129

Rh St. Olda,.

St. Oldrada,.

St. Olga, afterwards, June 11, + 978, Böttiger says 969. Duchess of Kiew. First Christian sovereign of Russia. Patron of Russia. Wife of Igor, the son of Rurik from whom all princes in Russia trace their descent. In the oldest records it is said that Oleg, the regent, brought Olga from Pleskof or Pskov to Kiew and gave her to Igor for a wife. More modern histories say that she was of the same Varangian race as Igor, but of a low class, and that Igor first saw her at Vouiboutskoy near Pskov, where he was hunting; he was struck by her stately beauty and good sense. She was standing by the river when he expressed his admiration too warmly and she proudly declared she would drown herself there and then rather than submit to any indignity. He saw that she was born to be a queen. They were married in 908. Oleg continued to rule until 912, when Igor reigned alone until 945. He had perpetual wars, sometimes with the Greek empire, sometimes with the Petchénègues, the Drevlians and the various fierce nomad tribes who kept making raids into Europe from the lands which are now the eastern side of Russia. He tolerated the Christians. There was already, in 945, a cathedral of St. Elia, at Kiew. Igor enriched himself and his boiars with the spoils of his enemies, but at last they carried their love of plunder too far; the Drevlians, who had for some years paid him tribute, rose against him at Korosthene, under Mal, their chief. They bent down two trees, tied him by one arm and one leg to each, and then let the trees spring back to their natural height, thus tearing the wretched Igor in pieces. Sviatoslav, the son of Igor and Olga, was very young, but his mother took the helm of the State in her strong hands. Her first care was to avenge her husband. In a woman of her nation and religion, it was a duty and a point of honour so to do. The Drevlians, proud of what they had done, and fearing not at all the woman and boy, who were then at the head of their enemies, conceived the project of seizing Kiew and making Olga marry their prince. They sent twenty ambassadors to say to her, "We have killed your husband because of his rapacity, but the Drevlian princes are magnanimous, their country is good, come and be the wife of our Prince Mai." Olga dissembled her anger, and pretended to accept their offer. "To-morrow," said she, "you shall receive all the honours that are due to you; return for the present to your boats, and when my people come to you, make them carry you in their arms." As soon as they were gone, she had a great pit dug in her court-yard, and next day she sent her men to fetch the ambassadors. According to her instructions, they said, "We will neither go on foot nor on horseback, carry us in our boats." "What can we do?" said the men of Kiew as they carried the envoys, "We are slaves! Igor is dead, and our princess consents to marry your prince." Olga was watching from her balcony; she marked the proud looks of the unsuspecting deputies. As soon as they came to the pit, her people threw them and their boats into it. The vindictive princess asked them if they were content with this honour. The unfortunates shrieked out their repentance, but it was too late, the earth was thrown back upon their living grave. Olga made haste to send a messenger to the Drevlians to say that they must send a number of their greatest men, as the people of Kiew would not let her leave them without a numerous and distinguished escort. The credulous Drevlians at once sent off their illustrious chiefs and citizens. As soon as they arrived they were shown to a bath, according to the custom of the country, and there they were shut in and burnt alive. Olga now sent word to the Drevlians to make ready the hydromel at Korosthene, as she was coming there, for before her second marriage she must celebrate funeral games on the tomb of her first husband. She went there, and watered the ashes of Igor with her tears, raised a cairn over his grave, and celebrated games in his honour. A banquet was then held, of which tho young Russian warriors did the honours. The Drevlians soon asked these young men