The word azъ in official documents of Ancient Rus and in the Laurentian Chronicle

The treaties of Princes Oleg and Igor began with the formula "We of the Rus' kin", that is, on behalf of the whole Russian land and the entire population of the country.

The business instruments and official documents of Ancient Rus', by contrast, opened with the word "azъ" ("I"): "Behold, I, Mstislav, son of Vladimir, holding the Russian land in my princedom".

In the Laurentian Chronicle we read: "I, Svyatoslav, Prince of Rus', as I have sworn, so do I confirm by this covenant my oath". This, incidentally, is considered the first use of the word az, azъ.

A contribution to the history, now more than a thousand years long, of the ethnonym "Russian". As Ilya Muromets put it, Rus' has stood for ages and does not waver, and will stand for ages more and never stir!

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The word azъ in official documents of Ancient Rus and in the Laurentian Chronicle

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