«...И не послуша ихъ...» Судьбоносные советы, обращенные к князьям в «Повести временных лет»

The paper concentrates on certain peculiarities of the way Russian princes are depicted in the Tale of Bygone Years. Special focus is given to the description of the death of Igor Riurikid, Svyatoslav Igorevich, Yaropolk Svyatoslavovich. The compositional pattern used by the chronicler in the description of the events is discussed and one of its key elements analyzed: advise given to the princes by their entourage presented in the chronicle in the form of direct speech.