Belgorod Kievsky
Encyclopedia
Bilhorod Kyivsky was a city-castle of Kievan Rus'
on the right bank of Irpin River
. The city was quite prominent in the 10th-12th centuries but ceased to exist after 1240 destruction of Kiev
by the Mongols. Currently there is a small village of Bilohorodka, Kiev Oblast
near the location of the defunct city .
The city is first mentioned in chronicles in 980. In 991 Vladimir I of Kiev
built there his castle. According to the chronicle Bilhorod was the favourite residence of Vladimir I who moved there a lot of his people including his three hundred concubines. The right bank of the Irpin River was the land of Drevlyans
who resisted Kievan Princes, thus, establishing of the castle might be intended to consolidate the power of Kiev over the drevlians. The castle also protected Kiev from the nomads of the Great Steppe.
In 997 the new castle survived the long siege by Pechenegs and protected Kiev from Pechenegs' attack. According to the Primary Chronicle
there was a famine in the city during the siege and the residents assembled a veche
or assembly to decide whether they should surrender to pechenegs. Veche decided to continue the defence of the city that eventually led to the victory. It was the first mention of veche in Russian chronicles. Later veche
became the main form of government in Novgorod Republic
and other states in the Northern Rus.
In the 11th century the city became a bishop
seat. Belgorod bishop was first mentioned in Primary Chronicle in 1088. In the 12th century the city plays the same role as earlier Pereyaslav and Novgorod: it became the seat of the heir of the Grand Duke of Kiev
. Since Belgorod was very close to Kiev the Grand Duke could control his heir and the heir could move to Kiev on a very short notice if required. The tradition started with Vladimir II Monomakh
who transferred there his son Mstyslav
in 1117. Mstyslav became the Grand Duke of Kiev is 1125. In 1140 the city was taken by Vsevolod II of Kiev
who gave it to his brother, Sviatoslav Olgovich
. In 1146 Bilhorod was taken by Iziaslav II of Kiev
who became the Grand Duke of Kiev in 1151. In 1159 Bilhorod became the seat of Mstislav II of Kiev
who became the Grand Duke of Kiev in 1167.
The most prosperity the city achieved under Rurik Rostislavich
, the ruler of Kievan Rus, who made the city his capital. In 13th century after the Mongol invasion of Rus' Bilhorod degraded and after destruction of Kiev in 1240 Bilhorod ceased to exist. There is still a small village Bilohorodka near the ruins of the city that keeps its name.
The ruins of the city (the Horodyshche) is a place of important archaeological excavation. Most of it is not excavated yet. The area of Horodyshche is 110 hectares. According to historian A. Chlenov the place is particularly important as it is: 1) The only drevlian fortress surviving almost intact (with its walls, etc.); 2) The only fortress of 10th century Rus of such preservation; 3) The biggest survived fortress of that epoch.
Kievan Rus'
Kievan Rus was a medieval polity in Eastern Europe, from the late 9th to the mid 13th century, when it disintegrated under the pressure of the Mongol invasion of 1237–1240....
on the right bank of Irpin River
Irpin River
Irpin’ , often called Irpen’ as its name is pronounced in Russian, is a river in Ukraine, a right tributary of the Dnieper.It is 162 km in length and flows through the city of Irpin'. The location where Irpin' enters the Dnieper river falls into the Kiev Reservoir which the Dnieper forms...
. The city was quite prominent in the 10th-12th centuries but ceased to exist after 1240 destruction of Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
by the Mongols. Currently there is a small village of Bilohorodka, Kiev Oblast
Kiev Oblast
Kyiv Oblast, sometimes written as Kiev Oblast is an oblast in central Ukraine.The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Kyiv , also being the capital of Ukraine...
near the location of the defunct city .
The city is first mentioned in chronicles in 980. In 991 Vladimir I of Kiev
Vladimir I of Kiev
Vladimir Sviatoslavich the Great Old East Slavic: Володимѣръ Свѧтославичь Old Norse as Valdamarr Sveinaldsson, , Vladimir, , Volodymyr, was a grand prince of Kiev, ruler of Kievan Rus' in .Vladimir's father was the prince Sviatoslav of the Rurik dynasty...
built there his castle. According to the chronicle Bilhorod was the favourite residence of Vladimir I who moved there a lot of his people including his three hundred concubines. The right bank of the Irpin River was the land of Drevlyans
Drevlyans
The Drevlians were a tribe of Early East Slavs between the 6th and the 10th century, which inhabited the territories of Polesia, Right-bank Ukraine west of Polans, down the stream of the rivers Teteriv, Uzh, Ubort, and Stviga...
who resisted Kievan Princes, thus, establishing of the castle might be intended to consolidate the power of Kiev over the drevlians. The castle also protected Kiev from the nomads of the Great Steppe.
In 997 the new castle survived the long siege by Pechenegs and protected Kiev from Pechenegs' attack. According to the Primary Chronicle
Primary Chronicle
The Primary Chronicle , Ruthenian Primary Chronicle or Russian Primary Chronicle, is a history of Kievan Rus' from about 850 to 1110, originally compiled in Kiev about 1113.- Three editions :...
there was a famine in the city during the siege and the residents assembled a veche
Veche
Veche was a popular assembly in medieval Slavic countries.In Novgorod, where the veche acquired the greatest prominence, the veche was broadly similar to the Norse thing or the Swiss Landsgemeinde.-Etymology:...
or assembly to decide whether they should surrender to pechenegs. Veche decided to continue the defence of the city that eventually led to the victory. It was the first mention of veche in Russian chronicles. Later veche
Veche
Veche was a popular assembly in medieval Slavic countries.In Novgorod, where the veche acquired the greatest prominence, the veche was broadly similar to the Norse thing or the Swiss Landsgemeinde.-Etymology:...
became the main form of government in Novgorod Republic
Novgorod Republic
The Novgorod Republic was a large medieval Russian state which stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Ural Mountains between the 12th and 15th centuries, centred on the city of Novgorod...
and other states in the Northern Rus.
In the 11th century the city became a bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
seat. Belgorod bishop was first mentioned in Primary Chronicle in 1088. In the 12th century the city plays the same role as earlier Pereyaslav and Novgorod: it became the seat of the heir of the Grand Duke of Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
. Since Belgorod was very close to Kiev the Grand Duke could control his heir and the heir could move to Kiev on a very short notice if required. The tradition started with Vladimir II Monomakh
Vladimir II Monomakh
Vladimir II Monomakh |Basileios]]) was a Velikiy Kniaz of Kievan Rus'.- Family :He was the son of Vsevolod I and Anastasia of Byzantium Vladimir II Monomakh |Basileios]]) (1053 – May 19, 1125) was a Velikiy Kniaz (Grand Prince) of Kievan Rus'.- Family :He was the son of Vsevolod I (married in...
who transferred there his son Mstyslav
Mstislav I of Kiev
Mstislav I Vladimirovich the Great was the Grand Prince of Kiev , the eldest son of Vladimir II Monomakh by Gytha of Wessex...
in 1117. Mstyslav became the Grand Duke of Kiev is 1125. In 1140 the city was taken by Vsevolod II of Kiev
Vsevolod II of Kiev
Vsevolod II Olgovich was the Prince of Chernigov and Grand Prince of Kiev , son of Oleg Svyatoslavich, Prince of Chernigov....
who gave it to his brother, Sviatoslav Olgovich
Sviatoslav Olgovich
Sviatoslav Olgovich , Prince of Novgorod Novhorod-Siversky , Bilhorod Kyivsky and Chernihiv...
. In 1146 Bilhorod was taken by Iziaslav II of Kiev
Iziaslav II of Kiev
Iziaslav II Mstislavich , Prince of Pereyaslav , Prince of Turov , Prince of Rostov , Prince of Vladimir and Volyn , Pereyaslavl , Velikiy Kniaz of Kiev , was the oldest son of Mstislav Vladimirovich, Kniaz' , and...
who became the Grand Duke of Kiev in 1151. In 1159 Bilhorod became the seat of Mstislav II of Kiev
Mstislav II of Kiev
Mstislav II Izyaslavich , Kniaz' of Pereyaslav, Volodymyr-Volynsky and Velikiy Kniaz of Kiev . Son of Izyaslav Mstislavich, Velikiy Kniaz' of Kiev....
who became the Grand Duke of Kiev in 1167.
The most prosperity the city achieved under Rurik Rostislavich
Rurik Rostislavich
Ruryk Rostislavich , Prince of Novgorod , Belgorod Kievsky, presently Bilohorodka , Grand Prince of Kiev , Prince of Chernigov...
, the ruler of Kievan Rus, who made the city his capital. In 13th century after the Mongol invasion of Rus' Bilhorod degraded and after destruction of Kiev in 1240 Bilhorod ceased to exist. There is still a small village Bilohorodka near the ruins of the city that keeps its name.
The ruins of the city (the Horodyshche) is a place of important archaeological excavation. Most of it is not excavated yet. The area of Horodyshche is 110 hectares. According to historian A. Chlenov the place is particularly important as it is: 1) The only drevlian fortress surviving almost intact (with its walls, etc.); 2) The only fortress of 10th century Rus of such preservation; 3) The biggest survived fortress of that epoch.