The Chronicle of Titmar, Bishop of Merseburg (975-1018), covers the period from the reign of Henry I to 1018, is the most authoritative historical source, especially on the history of German-Slavic relations; contains important information on the history of Russia. The Merseburg "chronicle" of Bishop Titmar (known in Russia, mainly from German translations) is one of the most cited foreign sources in studies on the period of the reign of the first Russian princes Rurikovich, allows us to draw historical parallels and connect the Russian history of the "initial chronicle" in a single context with the political history of medieval Europe.