Textual variants in the Primary Chronicle

Textual variants in the Primary Chronicle manuscripts of the Kievan Rus' arise when a copyist makes deliberate or inadvertent alterations to the text that is being reproduced. Textual criticism (or textology) of the Primary Chronicle or Tale of Bygone Years has included study of its textual variants.

Legend

Frequently used sigla of Primary Chronicle manuscripts and editions include:

English name	Lat	Abr	Cyr	Slavic names	Digital versions
Academic Chronicle	A	Aka	А		manuscript scan
Hypatian Codex	H	Ipa Ipat	И		manuscript scan
Khlebnikov Codex Xlebnikov Codex	Kh X	Xle	Х		manuscript scan
Laurentian Codex	L	Lav	Л		manuscript scan
Radziwiłł Chronicle	R	Rad	Р		manuscript scan
Trinity Chronicle	TL	Tro	Т

English name	Lat	Abr	Cyr	Slavic names
Novgorod First Chronicle	NPL N1L	Novg. I НIЛ	НПЛ Н1Л
Synod Scroll Older Redaction			НПЛст
Novgorod First Chronicle of the Younger Redaction	NPLml		НПЛмл
Commission Scroll	K	Kom	К	Kommissionyi
Academy Scroll	Ak	NAca	Н А к	Akademichenskyi
Tolstoi Scroll	T	Tol Tols	Тол	Tolstovoi

; Critical editionsComplete Collection of Russian Chronicles: PSRL

Aleksey Shakhmatov: Šax
A. F. Bychkov 1872: Byč
Dmitry Likhachev: Lix
Donald Ostrowski et al. Paradosis : α
L. Müller critical modern German translation

List

''Note: Unlike the chapters and verses of the Bible used in biblical studies, textual criticism of the Primary Chronicle employs notation by page and line. For example, a notation such as "3.2" refers to the "third page, second line".''

0

0.1
0.2
0.2–3
0.3

1

1.1
1.2
1.3
1.9

3

3.8
3.8–3.9

4

4.12
4.13
4.13

5

5.22
5.23–25 See also Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin § Second phase (900–902)

6

8

7.21–9.4 Journey of Andrew the Apostle along the Dnieper from Korsun via the future site of Kyiv towards the future site of Veliky Novgorod.

9–10

9.5–10.16
9.5–21 The legendary founding of Kiev
9.17
9.26–10.16 The acts of Kyi, and the death of the four siblings.
10.5

12

12.16

16

16.21–17.3

17

17.4–24 Prediction of Khazar downfall.
17.25–29 See also Primary Chronicle § Opening date error.

25

26

26.21

41

41.13 reference to Acts 19:13–14.

54.12b–55.9

The death of Igor of Kiev.

55.10–60.8

Olga's revenge on the Derevlians. See also Olga of Kiev § Drevlian Uprising.
55.10
55.22
55.23
55.24
55.25
56.1

60–62

60.25–62.8 Olga's visit to Tsargrad, and conversion to Byzantine Christianity. See also Olga of Kiev § Conversion.
60.26
61.21b–22
62.8–25 Epilogue to Olga's conversion
62.14–18 biblical quotation Proverbs 1:20–22
62.21–22 biblical quotation Proverbs 13:19
62.22–23 biblical quotation Proverbs 2:2
62.23–24 biblical quotation Proverbs 8:17
62.24–25 biblical quotation John 6:37

63

63.8–9 biblical quotation 1 Corinthians 1:18
63.9–11 biblical quotation Psalm 82:5
63.13–19 biblical quotation Proverbs 1:24–31
63.29–64.1 biblical quotation Exodus 21:17. See also Textual variants in the Book of Exodus § Exodus 21.

65–67

65.14–18 Sviatoslav's invasion of Bulgaria
65.19–67.20 Siege of Kiev (968)

69–73

69–73 Sviatoslav's invasion of Bulgaria

84–121

84.18
111.23–24

122–125

Volodimer' I defeated the Pechenegs on the river Trubizh, and alleged founded Belgorod and Pereyaslavl'.

132–134

Killing of Boris and aftermath. See also Boris and Gleb.
132.29–133.3 biblical quotation Proverbs 1:16–19

135–141.16

Killing of Gleb and aftermath. See also Boris and Gleb.
135.1
135.27–136.1 Predslava Volodimerovna informs Yaroslav Volodimerovich, version A.
140.25–141.1 Predslava Volodimerovna informs Yaroslav Volodimerovich, version B.

141.17–142.24

Battle of Liubech between Sviatopolk I of Kiev and Yaroslav I of Kiev.
142.16–18
142.19
142.19–20

151

151.19
151.20
151.21

152

152.20

161

The so-called Testament of Yaroslav the Wise.
161.18

216–217

215.27–218.5 Eulogy of Vsevolod Yaroslavich I of Kiev. Accession of Sviatopolk Iziaslavich II of Kiev.

218–225

218.6–226.3 Cuman invasion of Rus'. See also Siege of Torchesk and Battle of the Stuhna River.
218.20–21

226–255

226.3–255 Chernigov war of succession. See also Oleg I of Chernigov#Chernigov war of succession.

235

235.20

256–257

256–257.13.

257–263

257.13–263.17 The blinding of Vasilko Rostislavich.

263–273

263.17–273.16 Internecine war in Rus' 1097–1100.

273–274

273.16–274.22 Council of Uvetichi.

275–276

1101–1102. Dynastic challenges to Sviatopolk II Iziaslavich of Kiev by Yaroslav Yaropolkich of Brest and Mstislav Volodimerovich of Novgorod. Peace with Polovtsi.

277–279

1103 campaign against the Polovtsi by Sviatopolk II Iziaslavich of Kiev and Vladimir II Monomakh. Battle of the Sutin River.

280

1104: various dynastic events, siege of Minsk, signs in sky.

281

1105–1107: various dynastic events, Semigallians defeat Vseslavichi.

282

1107–1108: Polovtsi raid by Boniak. Peace treaty.
282.25–283.3. See also Aepa.

283

1108–1109: Sviatopolk II Iziaslavich of Kiev orders construction of various church buildings.

284–285

1109–1110: Rus' campaign against Polovtsi. Signs in sky at Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, including lightning, pillars of fire and cloud, and an angelic apparation.

286.1–7

286.1–7 Only in Lav, Rad and Aka: colophon of Sylvester of Kiev.

286.7a–7pp

286.7a–7pp Only in Ipa and Xle: Primary Chronicle continuation of the Hypatian Codex and Khlebnikov Codex.
286.7nn
286.7oo
286.7pp

Hypatian PVL continuation

The Hypatian Codex continuation of the Primary Chronicle from the year 6619 compared to other closely related documents, such as the Suzdalian Chronicle and the Testament of Vladimir Monomakh in the Laurentian Codex, and the Novgorod First Chronicle.
;1111 campaign against the Polovtsi
;Monomakh's 1113 campaign against the Polovtsi

Primary sources

*
*
*
– This 2003 Ostrowski et al. edition includes an interlinear collation including the five main manuscript witnesses, the Trinity Chronicle, three manuscripts of the Novgorod First Chronicle, as well as a new paradosis.
* – A 2014 digitised and improved online version of Ostrowski et al. 2003.
– digitised 1950 Nauka edition of the Novgorod First Chronicle, including both the Synodal or "Older Edition" and the mid-15th-century Archaeographic Commission's edition or "Younger Edition"