Textual variants in the Primary Chronicle manuscripts 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 (Повѣсть времѧньныхъ лѣтъ|translit=Pověstĭ vremęnĭnyxŭ lětŭ, commonly abbreviated PVL) has included study of its textual variants.
Frequently used sigla (scribal symbols and abbreviations) of Primary Chronicle manuscripts and editions include:
| English name | Lat | Abr | Cyr | Slavic names | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Chronicle | A | Aka | А | Russian: Академическая летопись|translit=Akademicheskaya letopis' Ukrainian: Академічний літопис|Akademichnyj litópys | |
| Hypatian Codex | H | Ipa Ipat | И | Russian: Ипатьевская летопись|translit=Ipat'evskaya letopis' Ukrainian: Іпатіївський літопис|Ipátijivśkyj litópys | |
| Khlebnikov Codex Xlebnikov Codex | Kh X | Xle | Х | Russian: Хлебниковский список|Hlebnikovskij spisok Ukrainian: Хлєбниковський список|Khljebnykovśkyj spysok | |
| Laurentian Codex | L | Lav | Л | Russian: Лаврентьевский список|Lavrent'evskij spisok Ukrainian: Лаврентіївський список|Lavrentijivśkyj spysok | |
| Radziwiłł Chronicle | R | Rad | Р | Russian: Радзивилловская летопись|Radzivillovskaya letopis' Ukrainian: Радзивіллівський літопис|Radzyvíllivśkyj litópys | |
| Trinity Chronicle | TL | Tro | Т | Russian: Троицкая летопись|Troitskaya letopis' Ukrainian: Троїцький літопис|Trojitśkyj litópys |
| English name | Lat | Abr | Cyr | Slavic names | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novgorod First Chronicle | NPL N1L | Novg. I НIЛ | НПЛ Н1Л | Russian: Новгородская первая летопись|Novgoródskaya pérvaya létopisʹ Ukrainian: Новгородський перший літопис|Novhorodśkyj pershyj litópys | |
| Synod Scroll Older Redaction | НПЛст | Russian: Синодальный список|Sinodálʹnyy spispok Russian: Старший извод|Starshij izvod | |||
| Novgorod First Chronicle of the Younger Redaction | NPLml | НПЛмл | Russian: Новгородская первая летопись Младшего Извода|Novgoródskaya pérvaya létopis' Mladshego Izvoda | ||
| Commission Scroll | K | Kom | К | Kommissionyi | |
| Academy Scroll | Ak | NAca | НАк | Akademichenskyi | |
| Tolstoi Scroll | T | Tol Tols | Тол | Tolstovoi |
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".
0.1
Се повѣсти времѧньных лѣт.{{sfn|Ostrowski|Birnbaum|2014|loc=0.1 – Lav Tro Byč Šax Lix
повесть временных лѣтъ черноризца феѡдось<nowiki>|</nowiki>ева{{sfn|Ostrowski|Birnbaum|2014|loc=0.1 – Ipa
цр҃ковъ премѫдрѡс бж҃їю ст҃ыи соѳеи, митрополїю{{sfn|Ostrowski|Birnbaum|2014|loc=151.21 – Xle
152.20
симонъ{{sfn|Ostrowski|Birnbaum|2014|loc=152.20 – Lav
соломонъ{{sfn|Ostrowski|Birnbaum|2014|loc=152.20 – Aka, Ipa, Rad (соломнъ), Xle (солѡмонъ) Byč, Šax, Lix, α
The so-called Testament of Yaroslav the Wise.
161.18
переꙗславль. а вѧчеславу|pereyaslavl'. A vęcheslavu|...Pereyaslavl'. To [[Vyacheslav Yaroslavich|Vyacheslav]]...|label=none – Lav Ipa Xle
Переяславль, а Вячеславу|Pereyaslavl', a Vyacheslavu|...Pereyaslavl', to [[Vyacheslav Yaroslavich|Vyacheslav]]...|label=none – Šax α
переꙗславль. а вечславѹ|pereyaslavl'. A vechslavu|...Pereyaslavl'. To Vechslav...|label=none – Rad
переꙗславль. [а игорю воломеръ] а вечславѹ |pereyaslavl'. [a igoryu volomerŭ] a vechslavu|...Pereyaslavl'. [To Igor Volomerŭ] to Vechslav...|label=none – Aka
переꙗславль а игореви володимирь а вꙗчеславу |pereyaslavl' a igorevi volodimirĭ a vyacheslavu|...Pereyaslavl' to Igorevi Volodimirĭ to Vyacheslav...|label=none – Kom
переꙗславль а игореви володимиръ а вꙗчеву |pereyaslavl' a igorevi volodimirŭ a vyacheslavu|...Pereyaslavl' to Igorevi Volodimirŭ to Vyachev...|label=none – NAk Tol
Переяславль, а Игорю Володимеръ, а Вячеславу |Pereyaslavl', a Igoryu Volodimerŭ, a Vyacheslavu|...Pereyaslavl', to Igor Volodimerŭ, to Vyacheslav...|label=none – Byč Lix
It is not clear why 'to Igor[evi] Volo[di]merŭ' is found in relatively late copies, but not in the earliest copies. It could represent a harmonisation effort with 162.12–13 and 162.21–22, where all witnesses attest that 'Igor' [settled] in Volodimerŭ', and that when Vyacheslav died in Smolensk shortly thereafter, 'Igor' settled in Smolinĭskě, moving over from Volodimerŭ'. The Igor' in question is probably Igor Yaroslavich, who reportedly died sub anno 1060 (162.28). Cross & Sherbowitz-Wetzor (1953) and Thuis (2015) both included the city as Vladimir in their translations, footnoting it as "Vladimir-Volÿnsk" and "city in Volhynia" respectively (ergo, modern Volodymyr, Volyn Oblast), without further explanation.
See also: Kiev uprising of 1068.
215.27–218.5 Eulogy of Vsevolod Yaroslavich I of Kiev. Accession of Sviatopolk Iziaslavich II of Kiev (with prominent role for Vladimir II Monomakh).
218.6–226.3 Cuman (Polovtsi) invasion of Rus' (1093). See also Siege of Torchesk and Battle of the Stuhna River.
218.20–21
имѣю отрокъ своих· [[Psi (Cyrillic)|ѱ҃·]] иже могу<nowiki>|</nowiki>ть про[ти]ву имъ стати·{{sfn|Ostrowski|Birnbaum|2014|loc=218.20–21 – Rad
имѣꙗ ѡтрокъ своих<nowiki>|</nowiki> ·[[Omega (Cyrillic)|ѿ]]· иже могѹть имь противѹ стати·{{sfn|Ostrowski|Birnbaum|2014|loc=218.20–21