Oleg Yaroslavich
Encyclopedia
Oleg Yaroslavich "Nastachich" (after 1161–1189) was a Rus'
prince (a member of the Rurik dynasty
). He was prince of Halych (1187, 1189).
Oleg was the illegitimate son of Prince Yaroslav Volodimerovich Osmomysl of Halych
by his mistress, Nastaska, a daughter of a local boyar. The Galician boyars had his mother burned as a witch and forced his father to reinstate his wife (whom Yaroslav Volodimerovich had left in order to take Oleg’s mother). The boyars also took Oleg, who was his father’s favorite, under lock and key.
Yaroslav Volodimerovich died on October 1, 1187, and designated Oleg his successor in Halych. To his only legitimate son, Vladimir Yaroslavich
, he gave Peremishl
(Przemyśl, Poland
). Yaroslav Volodimerovich also made his legitimate son and the Galicians promise not to take Halych from Oleg. After his death, however, they deposed Oleg forcing him to seek help from Ryurik Rostislavich
in Vruchiy. After Oleg failed to solicit aid from Ryurik Rostislavich, he went to Duke Casimir II of Poland
(1177–1194).
Oleg’s stepbrother, Vladimir Yaroslavich lived a dissolute life and took to himself a priest
's wife. When the Galician boyars threatened to kill his wife, Vladimir Yaroslavich took her, his two sons and fled to King Béla III of Hungary
(1172–1196). According to a late chronicle
, Oleg and Duke Casimir II marched against Vladimir Yaroslavich and defeated him, and after Vladimir Yaroslavich had fled to the Hungarians, Casimir II appointed Oleg to Halych.
Oleg was poisoned by the townspeople of Halych who invited Roman Mstislavich of Vladimir-in-Volhynia
to be their prince.
Rus' (people)
The Rus' were a group of Varangians . According to the Primary Chronicle of Rus, compiled in about 1113 AD, the Rus had relocated from the Baltic region , first to Northeastern Europe, creating an early polity which finally came under the leadership of Rurik...
prince (a member of the Rurik dynasty
Rurik Dynasty
The Rurik dynasty or Rurikids was a dynasty founded by the Varangian prince Rurik, who established himself in Novgorod around the year 862 AD...
). He was prince of Halych (1187, 1189).
Oleg was the illegitimate son of Prince Yaroslav Volodimerovich Osmomysl of Halych
Yaroslav Osmomysl
Yaroslav Osmomysl was the most famous Prince of Halych from the first dynasty of its rulers, which descended from Yaroslav I's eldest son. His sobriquet, meaning "Eight-Minded" in Old East Slavic, was granted to him in recognition of his wisdom...
by his mistress, Nastaska, a daughter of a local boyar. The Galician boyars had his mother burned as a witch and forced his father to reinstate his wife (whom Yaroslav Volodimerovich had left in order to take Oleg’s mother). The boyars also took Oleg, who was his father’s favorite, under lock and key.
Yaroslav Volodimerovich died on October 1, 1187, and designated Oleg his successor in Halych. To his only legitimate son, Vladimir Yaroslavich
Vladimir II Yaroslavich
Vladimir II Yaroslavich was a Rus’ prince . He was prince of Halych .He was profligate by nature. He lived a debauched life and was politically ineffectual...
, he gave Peremishl
Przemysl
Przemyśl is a city in south-eastern Poland with 66,756 inhabitants, as of June 2009. In 1999, it became part of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship; it was previously the capital of Przemyśl Voivodeship....
(Przemyśl, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
). Yaroslav Volodimerovich also made his legitimate son and the Galicians promise not to take Halych from Oleg. After his death, however, they deposed Oleg forcing him to seek help from Ryurik Rostislavich
Rurik Rostislavich
Ruryk Rostislavich , Prince of Novgorod , Belgorod Kievsky, presently Bilohorodka , Grand Prince of Kiev , Prince of Chernigov...
in Vruchiy. After Oleg failed to solicit aid from Ryurik Rostislavich, he went to Duke Casimir II of Poland
Casimir II the Just
Casimir II the Just was a Lesser Polish duke at Wiślica during 1166–1173, and at Sandomierz since 1173. He became ruler over the Polish Seniorate Province at Kraków and thereby High Duke of Poland in 1177; a position he held until his death, interrupted once by his elder brother and predecessor...
(1177–1194).
Oleg’s stepbrother, Vladimir Yaroslavich lived a dissolute life and took to himself a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
's wife. When the Galician boyars threatened to kill his wife, Vladimir Yaroslavich took her, his two sons and fled to King Béla III of Hungary
Béla III of Hungary
Béla III was King of Hungary and Croatia . He was educated in the court of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I who was planning to ensure his succession in the Byzantine Empire till the birth of his own son...
(1172–1196). According to a late chronicle
Chronicle
Generally a chronicle is a historical account of facts and events ranged in chronological order, as in a time line. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and local events, the purpose being the recording of events that occurred, seen from the perspective of the...
, Oleg and Duke Casimir II marched against Vladimir Yaroslavich and defeated him, and after Vladimir Yaroslavich had fled to the Hungarians, Casimir II appointed Oleg to Halych.
Oleg was poisoned by the townspeople of Halych who invited Roman Mstislavich of Vladimir-in-Volhynia
Roman the Great
Roman Mstislavich , also Roman Mstyslavych or Roman the Great, was a Rus’ prince, Grand Prince of Kiev ....
to be their prince.
Ancestry
Sources
- Dimnik, Martin: The Dynasty of Chernigov - 1146-1246; Cambridge University Press, 2003, Cambridge; ISBN 978-0-521-03981-9.