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 (, commonly abbreviated PVL) has included study of its textual variants.

Legend

Frequently used sigla (scribal symbols and abbreviations) of Primary Chronicle manuscripts and editions include: + Six main manuscripts English name Lat Abr Cyr Slavic names Digital versions Academic Chronicle A Aka А manuscript scan Hypatian Codex H IpaIpat И manuscript scan Khlebnikov CodexXlebnikov Codex KhX Xle Х manuscript scan Laurentian Codex L Lav Л manuscript scan Radziwiłł Chronicle R Rad Р manuscript scan Trinity Chronicle TL Tro Т (manuscript lost)

+ Novgorod First Chronicle manuscripts English name Lat Abr Cyr Slavic names Novgorod First Chronicle NPLN1L Novg. IНIЛ НПЛН1Л Synod ScrollOlder Redaction НПЛст Novgorod First Chronicle ofthe Younger Redaction NPLml НПЛмл Commission Scroll K Kom К Kommissionyi Academy Scroll Ak NAca НАк Akademichenskyi Tolstoi Scroll T TolTols Тол Tolstovoi

Critical editions Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles: PSRL Aleksey Shakhmatov: Šax A. F. Bychkov 1872: Byč Dmitry Likhachev: Lix Donald Ostrowski et al. Paradosis (2003, digitised 2014): α L. Müller (2001) critical modern German translation

List

Note: Unlike the chapters and verses of the Bible used in biblical studies, textual criticism of the Primary Chronicle (PVL) employs notation by page and line. For example, a notation such as "3.2" refers to the "third (3rd) page, second (2nd) line".

0

0.1 – Lav Tro Byč Šax Lix – Rad Aka Ipa α – Xle – Novgorod First Chronicle Younger Redaction

0.2 – Rad Aka Ipa Xle α omitted – Lav Tro Byč Šax Lix

0.2–3 – Lav – Novgorod First Chronicle Younger Redaction

0.3 – Lav Byč Šax Lix – Novgorod First Chronicle Younger Redaction omitted – all other manuscripts, α

1 1.1 – Lav Tro Aka Ipa Byč Lix α – Xle – Rad – Šax

1.2 – Tro Byč Lix – Rad Aka α – Ipa – Xle – Šax – Lav

1.3 – Lav Tro Ipa Byč Šax Lix α – Aka Rad (афетъ) Xle (и афе)

1.9 – Lav – Tro – Rad Aka (3 ї/и variations) – Ipa – Xle

3 3.8 – Rad Aka Ipa Xle Šax α – Lav Byč Lix – Tro – George Hamartolos See also Generations of Noah

3.8–3.9 – George Hamartolos – α

4 4.12 – Lav – Tro – Rad – Aka – Ipa – Xle The Urmane are usually interpreted as "Normans" or "Norsemen"; Gote as either "Goths" or "Gotlanders"; A(n)gnjane or Agljane as "Angles" / "English"; and Galichane as either "Galicians" (and thus translated as "Spaniards", see Galicia (Spain)), "Gauls" or "Welsh".

4.13 – Tro Ipa Xle Šax α – Lav Byč Lix omitted – Rad Aka It is unclear what Volokhove (or Volŭkhva) means. Cross & Sherbowitz-Wetzor (1930, 1953) translated it as "Italians" (compare modern Polish Włochy "Italy" or "Italians"); but in 6.6 he rendered Волохомъ/Волхомъ/Волотомъ as Vlakhs. Lunt (1995) described the Volokhs as 'people speaking Latin or a Romance language.' Thuis (2015) translated both as "Vlachs", adding 'This is possibly a Celto-Romance people.'

4.13 – Tro Byč Šax Lix α; (римлѧне) Lav Xle; (римлѧнѣ) Ipa omitted – Rad Aka

5 5.22 – Lav Byč Lix – Rad – Aka – Ipa The N- ethnonym is unclear. Cross & Sherbowitz-Wetzor (1930, 1953) rendered them as the Noricians, who are identical to the Slavs. Lunt (1995), noting that Lav and Rad 'have independent corruptions', translated Ipa/Xle/Aka as (those) called Norci, who are Slavs. He commented: 'These clauses do not fit together easily. (...) This rather odd sentence seems, then, to imply that the Norci are a sub-tribe of Slavs.' Thuis (2015) wrote the Noriks, who are Slavs, adding 'The inhabitants of the Roman province of Noricum along the Danube. Possibly, this is a reference to the purported Urheimat of the Slavic people.'

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

6 6.6–8 See also Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin § Second phase (900–902)

6.13 – Rad Ipa Xle (деревлѧ) – α – Lav Aka – Byč Šax Lix

7

7.21–22 – Ipa (жералы) Xle – Rad Aka (понтьское) – α Šax (понтьское) – Lav Byč Lix

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 (Kyiv)

9.17 – Lav Tro Rad Ipa Byč Lix – Aka Xle Šax α

9.26–10.16 The acts of Kyi, and the death of the four siblings.

10.5 – Lav – Tro – Byč – Lix – Rad – Aka – Ipa – Xle – Šax – α

12

12.16 – Rad Aka Ipa – Byč Lix α – Lav – Tro – Šax [lacuna] – Xle

16

16.21–17.3

17 17.4–24 Prediction of Khazar downfall.

17.25–29 See also Primary Chronicle § Opening date error.

19–20

23

25 25.10–21 See also Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin § Second phase (900–902)

26 26.21 – Lav – Rad, Aka, – Ipa, Xle,

29–32

32–37

41 41.13 reference to Acts 19:13–14.

46–54.12a

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 – Lav, Byč, Lix – Tolstoy, Šax, α – Ipa – Rad, Xle – Aka, Kom

55.22 – Ipa, Byč, Šax, Lix, α – Aka – Kom, Tolstoy – Xle – Rad – Lav

55.23 – Rad (воротиславль. и), Xle(идеже) – Aka – Ipa – Lav – Byč, Šax, Lix – α

55.24 omitted – Lav – Rad (гра.), Aka (чюнь.), Ipa (города), Xle (перевѣсишто; города.), Byč (Чюдинъ), Šax (вънѣ), Lix (Чюдинъ), α (вънѣ)

55.25 – Rad, Aka, α – Byč, Šax, Lix – Kom, Tolstoy (другии) – Ipa (демесниковъ), Xle (деместниковь) – Lav Cross & Sherbowitz-Wetzor (1953): 'another palace, where the palace of the Cantors is now situated'.

56.1 – Lav – Rad – Aka – Ipa – Xle – Kom Tolstoy (деревъскаꙗ) – Byč, Šax (Деревьска), Lix – α

60–62 60.25–62.8 Olga's visit to Tsargrad (Constantinople), and conversion to Byzantine Christianity. See also Olga of Kiev § Conversion.

60.26 – Lav – Rad – Aka – Ipa – Xle – Kom – NAk Tol Ostrowski (2007): 'Since the emperor at the time was not Tsimiskes but Constantine, the reading Костянтинъ сынъ Леоновъ might be considered a correction of the primary but historically incorrect reading.'

61.21b–22 – Lav – Rad – Aka – Ipa – Ipa – Kom Butler (2008): '[Ostrowski et al. (2003)], lines 61,22, omits "esi" after "Perekliukala" (sometimes with vocative "Ol'go"), which causes some manuscripts to read, "You have fooled, me, Ol'ga."'

62.8–25 Epilogue to Olga's conversion

62.14–18 biblical quotation Proverbs 1:20–22 – α – Proverbs 1:20–22 NIV

62.21–22 biblical quotation Proverbs 13:19 – α – Proverbs 13:19 NIV (KVJ: 'The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.')

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 – α – 1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV

63.9–11 biblical quotation Psalm 82:5 – α – Psalm 82:5 NIV

63.13–19 biblical quotation Proverbs 1:24–31 (or 1:25–30)

63.29–64.1 biblical quotation Exodus 21:17 (MT; LXX: Exodus 21:16). See also Textual variants in the Book of Exodus § Exodus 21. – α – Exodus 21:17 NIV Compare Deuteronomy 21:18–21.

65–67 65.14–18 Sviatoslav's invasion of Bulgaria (first part)

65.19–67.20 Siege of Kiev (968)

69–73 69–73 Sviatoslav's invasion of Bulgaria (second part)

75–76

79

82–83

84–121

84.18 – Lav

111.23–24 (NPL 152.10–11) – Lav Byč Lix – Rad – Aka – Ipa – Xle – Kom Tol Šax – α Ostrowski (2007): 'Here the expected reading is 'marriage' (брачение) since Volodimir had already been 'betrothed' (обручение) to Anna earlier in the narrative.' Müller (2006) and Gippius (2002) argued that 'marriage' (брачение) was the primary reading, and that 'betrothal' (обручение) had to have been a later corruption in the protograph of Ipa and Kle, which had also contaminated Rad and Aka. Ostrowski countered that 'one may ask why the scribe of [Rad/Aka] would adopt a contextually incorrect reading from the contaminating source to replace a contextually correct reading in his direct source.' Following the lectio difficilior potior principle, Ostrowski asserted 'betrothed' (обручение) as the original text.

122–125 Volodimer' I defeated the Pechenegs on the river Trubizh, and alleged founded Belgorod (Bilhorod Kyivskyi) and Pereyaslavl' (Pereiaslav).

132–134 Killing of Boris and aftermath. See also Boris and Gleb.

132.29–133.3 biblical quotation Proverbs 1:16–19 – α ("They make haste to shed blood unjustly. For they (133) promise blood, and gather evil. Their path runneth to evil, for they possess their souls in dishonor" (Prov., i, 16-19).') – Proverbs 1:16–19 NIV (KVJ: 'For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. (...) And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.') – Proverbs 1:16–19 LXX ABP

135–141.16 Killing of Gleb and aftermath. See also Boris and Gleb.

135.1 – Lav – Rad, Aka – Ipa – Xle

135.27–136.1 Predslava Volodimerovna informs Yaroslav Volodimerovich, version A. – α – Ipa Xle Compare Novgorod First Chronicle Younger Redaction (NPL ml): – NPL ml

140.25–141.1 Predslava Volodimerovna informs Yaroslav Volodimerovich, version B. – α Lav Aka – Ipa Xle Rad

141.17–142.24 Battle of Liubech (1016) between Sviatopolk I of Kiev and Yaroslav I of Kiev.

+ Line (PVL) Hypatian (Ipa)Radziwiłł (Rad)Academic (Aka) Khlebnikov (Xle) Laurentian (Lav) Novgorod First Chronicle (NPL)Older Edition (St.) Novgorod First Chronicle (NPL)Younger Edition (Ml.) 142.13b И бысть сѣча зъла, – – оже за рукы емлющеся сЂчаху и по удолиемъ кровь течаше; мнозЂ вЂрнии видяху аггелы божиа помагающа Ярославу; 142.14 (и) не бѣ льзѣ озеръмь Печенѣгомъ помогати, – 142.15–16a и притиснуша Святопълчь съ вои къ озеру. 142.16b И въступиша на ледъ, 142.16c–17a – и обломисѧ ле с вои ст҃опочи и мнѡѕи потопоша въ вода. и и ѡбломисѧ с ними ледъ. и 142.17b одолати нача Ярославъ. 142.17c–18 Видѣвъ же Святопълкъ, побеже, и одолѣ Ярославъ. [lacuna] и до свЂта победиша Святопълка. 142.19a Святопълкъ же бѣжа въ Ляхы, И бЂжя Святопълкъ въ ПечЂнЂгы, – – и бысть межи Чахы и Ляхы, (...). 142.19b–20 Ярославъ же сѣде Кыевѣ на столѣ отьни. ꙗрославъ же сѣде кыевѣ на столѣ ѡтьни и дѣдни· а Ярослав иде Кыеву, и сЂде на столЂ отця своего Володимира. + Line (PVL) Hypatian (Ipa)Radziwiłł (Rad)Academic (Aka) Khlebnikov (Xle) Laurentian (Lav) Novgorod First Chronicle (NPL)Older Edition (St.) Novgorod First Chronicle (NPL)Younger Edition (Ml.) 142.13b And the battle was terrible, – – with them clutching each other's hands and blood flowing through the valleys; many of the faithful saw God's a[n]gels helping Yaroslav; 142.1 (and) due to the lake, the Pechenegs could not help. – 142.15–16a And they pushed Sviatopolk with [his] soldiers to the lake. 142.16b And (when) they went onto the ice, 142.16c–17a – and the ice weakened under Sviatopolk's soldiers and many drowned in the waters. and the ice weakened under them. And 142.17b Yaroslav began obtaining the advantage. 142.17c–18 Seeing this, Sviatopolk fled, and Yaroslav won. [lacuna] and before daybreak they defeated Sviatopolk. 142.19a But Sviatopolk fled to the Lyakhs [Poles]. And Sviatopolk fled to the Pechenegs. – – And between the Czechs and Lyakhs [Poles], he [died] (...). 142.19b–20 But Yaroslavŭ settled in Kyevŭ upon [the] throne of [his] father. But Jaroslavŭ settled in Kyevŭ upon [the] throne of [his] father and grandfather. But Yaroslav went [to] Kyevu, and settled on [the] throne of his father Volodimer'. 142.16–18 – Rad Aka Ipat α – Lav – Xle

142.19 – all PVL mss. and editions – NPL st. – NPL ml. Compare PVL 144.28–145.20

142.19–20 – Rad Aka Ipat Xle α – Lav Byč Šax Lix