Chernihiv Principality
Encyclopedia
The Principality of Chernigov (Chernihiv) is one of the largest state formations of Kievan Rus'
. For a time the principality was the second most important after Kiev.
rivers. The principality was supposedly mostly populated by Slavic tribes of Siverians and partially by the Dnieper Polans
. Later the territory of the principality was extended to the lands of Radimichs
and partially Vyatichs
and Drehovichs. The capital of the principality was the city of Chernigov, modern Chernihiv
. Other important cities were Novhorod-Siversky, Starodub
, Bryansk
, Putyvl
, Kursk
, Lubech, Hlukhiv
, Chechersk, Gomel (Homiel), Vyr, etc. Ownership and influence of the Chernigov Principality reached far to the North (the Murom-Ryazan Land) and to the South-East (Tmutorokan Principality).
before the 11th century, the principality was ruled by local (tribal) elderly and voevodes from Kiev
that were appointed by the Grand Prince
to collect tribute
from the local population, manage judicial trials, and defend the land from external enemies. In the years 1024–1036 the principality of Chernigov was passed under the administration of son of the Vladimir the Great, Mstislav of Chernigov
who came there from Tmutorokan. Together with Yaroslav the Wise Mstislav ruled the Kievan Rus establishing Chernigov as one of the most important administration centers within the Rus. Upon the death of Mstislav Chernigov was incorporated into the realm of Kiev.
After Yaroslav the Wise the principality of Chernigov was passed to one of his sons Grand Prince Sviatoslav
, who gave rise to the Chernigov branch of Rurikids. During the Yaroslavichi's civil war Chernigov was contested between sons of Svyatoslav and Vsevolod. Only by the decision of Liubech Congress (1097) the Sviatoslav’s sons Oleg
, Davyd, and their descendants finally secured the principality after their family. Since then the principality obtained a certain degree of autonomy and was primarily secured after the Oleg's descendants.
With time Cherhigov Principality was split into three main apanage principalities: Chernigov, Novgorod-Seversk
and Murom-Ryazan, while Tmutarakan due to its remoteness became often contested and eventually was overtaken. Murom and later the Ryazan principality also drifted away from under the influence of Chernigov and after some time was contested by the Principality of Vladimir. Nonetheless the influence of Chernigov Princes remained large and they retained the title of Kiev Grand Prince
for sometime. The capital of the principality, Chernigov, was one of the largest economic and cultural centers of Kievan Rus'
. The Chernigov dynasty possessed Kiev
for some time in the 11th–13th centuries.
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....
. For a time the principality was the second most important after Kiev.
Location
The greater part of Chernigov Principality was located on the left bank of the river Dnieper, within the basins of the Desna and SeimSeym River
Seym is a river in Russia and Ukraine. Its length is 748 km and its basin area about 27,500 km². It is the largest tributary of the Desna....
rivers. The principality was supposedly mostly populated by Slavic tribes of Siverians and partially by the Dnieper Polans
Polans (eastern)
The Polans ; also Polianians; were a Slavic tribe between the 6th and the 9th century, which inhabited both sides of the Dnieper river from Liubech to Rodnia and also down the lower streams of the rivers Ros', Sula, Stuhna, Teteriv, Irpin', Desna and Pripyat...
. Later the territory of the principality was extended to the lands of Radimichs
Radimichs
The Radimichs , were a tribe of West Slavs of the last few centuries of the 1st millennium, which inhabited upper east parts of the Dnieper down the Sozh River and its tributaries...
and partially Vyatichs
Vyatichs
The Vyatichi or Viatichi were a tribe of East Slavs who inhabited a part of the Oka basin.The Primary Chronicle names a certain tribal leader Vyatko as the forefather of the tribe, but the modern etymology places the word as a cognate to Veneti and Vandals. The Vyatichi were mainly engaged in...
and Drehovichs. The capital of the principality was the city of Chernigov, modern Chernihiv
Chernihiv
Chernihiv or Chernigov is a historic city in northern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Chernihiv Oblast , as well as of the surrounding Chernihivskyi Raion within the oblast...
. Other important cities were Novhorod-Siversky, Starodub
Starodub
Starodub is a town and the administrative center of Starodubsky District of Bryansk Oblast, Russia. It is located on the Babinets River , southwest of Bryansk. Population: 16,000 .-History:...
, Bryansk
Bryansk
Bryansk is a city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Moscow. Population: -History:The first written mention of Bryansk was in 1146, in the Hypatian Codex, as Debryansk...
, Putyvl
Putyvl
Putyvl or Putivl is a town in north-east Ukraine, in Sumy Oblast. Currently about 20,000 people live in Putyvl.-History:One of the original Siverian towns, Putyvl was first mentioned as early as 1146 as an important fortress contested between Chernigov and Novgorod-Seversky principalities of...
, Kursk
Kursk
Kursk is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym Rivers. The area around Kursk was site of a turning point in the Russian-German struggle during World War II and the site of the largest tank battle in history...
, Lubech, Hlukhiv
Hlukhiv
Hlukhiv or Glukhov is a historic town in Sumy region of Ukraine, just south from the Russian border . As of 2001, the city's population is 35,800...
, Chechersk, Gomel (Homiel), Vyr, etc. Ownership and influence of the Chernigov Principality reached far to the North (the Murom-Ryazan Land) and to the South-East (Tmutorokan Principality).
History
According to the Primary ChroniclePrimary 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 :...
before the 11th century, the principality was ruled by local (tribal) elderly and voevodes from 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....
that were appointed by the Grand Prince
Grand Prince
The title grand prince or great prince ranked in honour below emperor and tsar and above a sovereign prince .Grand duke is the usual and established, though not literal, translation of these terms in English and Romance languages, which do not normally use separate words for a "prince" who reigns...
to collect tribute
Tribute
A tribute is wealth, often in kind, that one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often the case in historical contexts, of submission or allegiance. Various ancient states, which could be called suzerains, exacted tribute from areas they had conquered or threatened to conquer...
from the local population, manage judicial trials, and defend the land from external enemies. In the years 1024–1036 the principality of Chernigov was passed under the administration of son of the Vladimir the Great, Mstislav of Chernigov
Mstislav of Chernigov
Mstislav of Chernigov was the earliest attested ruler of Chernigov . He was Vladimir the Great's son, probably by Rogneda of Polotsk, although his exact position in the family has been disputed. It is not clear, for instance, whether Yaroslav the Wise was his younger or elder brother...
who came there from Tmutorokan. Together with Yaroslav the Wise Mstislav ruled the Kievan Rus establishing Chernigov as one of the most important administration centers within the Rus. Upon the death of Mstislav Chernigov was incorporated into the realm of Kiev.
After Yaroslav the Wise the principality of Chernigov was passed to one of his sons Grand Prince Sviatoslav
Sviatoslav II of Kiev
Sviatoslav Iaroslavich was the Prince of Chernihiv from 1054 to 1073 and Grand Prince of Kiev from 1073 until his death...
, who gave rise to the Chernigov branch of Rurikids. During the Yaroslavichi's civil war Chernigov was contested between sons of Svyatoslav and Vsevolod. Only by the decision of Liubech Congress (1097) the Sviatoslav’s sons Oleg
Oleg I of Chernigov
Oleg Svyatoslavich of Chernigiv , sometimes also styled as of Tmutarakan, was a Rurikid prince whose equivocal adventures ignited political unrest in Kievan Rus at the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries....
, Davyd, and their descendants finally secured the principality after their family. Since then the principality obtained a certain degree of autonomy and was primarily secured after the Oleg's descendants.
With time Cherhigov Principality was split into three main apanage principalities: Chernigov, Novgorod-Seversk
Principality of Novgorod-Seversk
The Principality of Novgorod-Seversk was a medieval Rus' principality centered on the town now called Novhorod-Siverskyi. The principality was aligned to the Principality of Chernigov. It may have been created in 1139, the date of one modern authority...
and Murom-Ryazan, while Tmutarakan due to its remoteness became often contested and eventually was overtaken. Murom and later the Ryazan principality also drifted away from under the influence of Chernigov and after some time was contested by the Principality of Vladimir. Nonetheless the influence of Chernigov Princes remained large and they retained the title of Kiev Grand Prince
Grand Prince
The title grand prince or great prince ranked in honour below emperor and tsar and above a sovereign prince .Grand duke is the usual and established, though not literal, translation of these terms in English and Romance languages, which do not normally use separate words for a "prince" who reigns...
for sometime. The capital of the principality, Chernigov, was one of the largest economic and cultural centers of Kievan Rus'
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....
. The Chernigov dynasty possessed 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....
for some time in the 11th–13th centuries.