Svarn
Encyclopedia
Shvarn or Shvarno was the knyaz
of western parts of Galicia. An influential leader, he became involved in internal struggles of power within neighboring Grand Duchy of Lithuania
and briefly (1267–1269) was the Grand Duke. He also held the town of Kholm (modern Chełm, Poland) in his domain.
mentions him as Shkvarno, but the following editions use the names of Skirmont and Skirmunt, possibly a Ruthenisation
of Lithuanian name Skirmantas. Contemporary sources also mention his Christian name of Ioann (Иоанн), that is either John or George. In modern times the ruler is known by a variety of names in various historiographies, including Lithuanian Švarnas, Ukrainian Шварно, Russian and Belarussian Шварн, and Polish Szwarno. All of them are versions of the name of Shvarn, which most likely is a diminutive of the Slavic name
of Svaromir.
, Shvarn inherited the north-western parts of the Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia, his fathers' domain. This land included the town of Halicz itself, as well as the land across the Bug River
, that is Red Ruthenia
with the towns of Bełz, Czerwień
, Mielnik
, Drohiczyn
and eventually also Kholm (since 1264). His brother Lev I inherited the sourthern part of the land, with the cities of Lvov and Przemyśl
, while Roman became the heir of duchies of Lutsk
and Terebovl.
During the times of king Daniel's reign, the Galician lords were allied with their Polish neighbours against a common threat, the Lithuanian tribes that often raided the neighbouring lands for loot and plunder. However, in 1255 (or the previous year) Shvarn married an unnamed daughter of Mindaugas
, since 1253 the first (and only) king of Lithuania. This allied him to Lithuania and together the two rulers undertook numerous military campaigns against the Kingdom of Poland. Already in 1255 they raided Lublin
, in 1262 a major campaign against Masovia was started. Shvarn and Treniota
captured the city of Płock and besieged Shvarn's brother-in-law, Siemowit I of Masovia in Jazdów (modern Warsaw
). In the end Siemowit was killed by Shvarn's troops and his son Konrad II
was taken prisoner. The Polish relief force did not arrive in time and was later defeated in a battle at Długosiodło on August 5, 1262.
In 1264 king Daniel of Galicia died and Shvarn received nominal overlordship over all of Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia as its' duke. Immediately he mounted a major campaign against Poland, this time aiming for Lesser Poland
. However, although joint armies managed to plunder Skaryszew
, Tarczek
and Wiślica
, this time the campaign was less successful and the allied Ruthenian and Lithuanian armies were repelled. The Yotvingian
auxiliaries were defeated by Bolesław V the Chaste at the Battle of Brańsk
. The following year Bolesław mounted a counter-offensive against Shvarn and his brother Vasilko Romanovich
, and defeated the earlier on June 19, 1266 at Wrota. This weakened Shvarn's position in his own domain. he also won the battle of plastic and beat them up.
In the meantime in 1263 Mindaugas of Lithuania was murdered. In the chaos that followed Mindaugas
' assassination, the lands of the Grand Duchy were in disarray, with both local and foreign rulers struggling for power. Shvarn gave his support to Vaišvilkas
, one of Mindaugas' sons and his brother-in-law. Together they managed to depose Treniota
and expel Dovmont
all the way to Pskov
. After Vaišvilkas returned to monastic life in 1267, Shvarn became the new Grand Duke. No details are known about Shvarno's rule over Lithuania and he most likely did not gain a strong foothold in that country. However, he was apparently fairly successful in expanding his borders. Following successful military campaigns, in 1267 he defeated his brother Mstislav in the battle of the Yaselda River and captured Turov
and Pinsk
. He then campaigned against the Volga Tatars
and defeated khan
Balaklay in the battle of Kojdanow (modern Dzyarzhynsk
, Belarus), which allowed Shvarn to capture the towns of Mozyr, Chernigov, Karachev
and Starodub
. The struggle for power within Lithuania however continued. Before a clear winner could emerge, Shvarm died in Kholm some time between 1269 and 1271. He was buried in an Orthodox Cathedral that once stood on a place now occupied by the Basilica of the Birth of the Virgin Mary. After his death most of his lands reverted back to Lithuania and came under control of Traidenis
, a previously less-known noble from Lithuanian Highlands
.
Knyaz
Kniaz, knyaz or knez is a Slavic title found in most Slavic languages, denoting a royal nobility rank. It is usually translated into English as either Prince or less commonly as Duke....
of western parts of Galicia. An influential leader, he became involved in internal struggles of power within neighboring Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
and briefly (1267–1269) was the Grand Duke. He also held the town of Kholm (modern Chełm, Poland) in his domain.
Name
Little is known of Shvarn and even his name is not entirely certain. The original documents relating to this ruler are scarce and mention him under a variety of names. For instance the first edition of Lithuanian AnnalsLithuanian Chronicles
The Lithuanian Chronicles are three redactions of chronicles compiled in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. All redactions were written in the Old Church Slavonic language and served the needs of Lithuanian patriotism. The first redaction, compiled in 1420s, glorified Vytautas the Great and supported...
mentions him as Shkvarno, but the following editions use the names of Skirmont and Skirmunt, possibly a Ruthenisation
Ruthenian language
Ruthenian, or Old Ruthenian , is a term used for the varieties of Eastern Slavonic spoken in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later in the East Slavic territories of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth....
of Lithuanian name Skirmantas. Contemporary sources also mention his Christian name of Ioann (Иоанн), that is either John or George. In modern times the ruler is known by a variety of names in various historiographies, including Lithuanian Švarnas, Ukrainian Шварно, Russian and Belarussian Шварн, and Polish Szwarno. All of them are versions of the name of Shvarn, which most likely is a diminutive of the Slavic name
Slavic name
Given names originating from the Slavic languages are most popular in Slavic countries such as Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, and others.-History of Slavic names:...
of Svaromir.
Biography
One of the sons of king Daniel I of Galicia of the house of RomanovichRurik 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...
, Shvarn inherited the north-western parts of the Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia, his fathers' domain. This land included the town of Halicz itself, as well as the land across the Bug River
Bug River
The Bug River is a left tributary of the Narew river flows from central Ukraine to the west, passing along the Ukraine-Polish and Polish-Belarusian border and into Poland, where it empties into the Narew river near Serock. The part between the lake and the Vistula River is sometimes referred to as...
, that is Red Ruthenia
Red Ruthenia
Red Ruthenia is the name used since medieval times to refer to the area known as Eastern Galicia prior to World War I; first mentioned in Polish historic chronicles in the 1321, as Ruthenia Rubra or Ruthenian Voivodeship .Ethnographers explain that the term was applied from the...
with the towns of Bełz, Czerwień
Czerwień
Czerwień was a mediæval West Slavic settlement located near the site of modern Czermno near Tyszowce. In early Middle Ages the town was the administrative centre of the so-called Czerwień Towns , that is the region roughly correspondent to later Red Ruthenia. The town itself had been destroyed by a...
, Mielnik
Mielnik
Mielnik is a village in Siemiatycze County, Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland, close to the border with Belarus. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Mielnik...
, Drohiczyn
Drohiczyn
Drohiczyn is a small historic town in Siemiatycze County, Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland. The town with population 2,110 is situated on a bank of the Bug River.- History :...
and eventually also Kholm (since 1264). His brother Lev I inherited the sourthern part of the land, with the cities of Lvov and Przemyśl
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....
, while Roman became the heir of duchies of Lutsk
Lutsk
Lutsk is a city located by the Styr River in northwestern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Volyn Oblast and the administrative center of the surrounding Lutskyi Raion within the oblast...
and Terebovl.
During the times of king Daniel's reign, the Galician lords were allied with their Polish neighbours against a common threat, the Lithuanian tribes that often raided the neighbouring lands for loot and plunder. However, in 1255 (or the previous year) Shvarn married an unnamed daughter of Mindaugas
Mindaugas
Mindaugas was the first known Grand Duke of Lithuania and the only King of Lithuania. Little is known of his origins, early life, or rise to power; he is mentioned in a 1219 treaty as an elder duke, and in 1236 as the leader of all the Lithuanians...
, since 1253 the first (and only) king of Lithuania. This allied him to Lithuania and together the two rulers undertook numerous military campaigns against the Kingdom of Poland. Already in 1255 they raided Lublin
Lublin
Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
, in 1262 a major campaign against Masovia was started. Shvarn and Treniota
Treniota
Treniota was the Grand Duke of Lithuania .Treniota was the nephew of Mindaugas, the first and only king of Lithuania. While Mindaugas had converted to Christianity in order to discourage Livonian Order and Teutonic Knights attacks on Lithuania, becoming king in the process, Treniota remained a...
captured the city of Płock and besieged Shvarn's brother-in-law, Siemowit I of Masovia in Jazdów (modern Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
). In the end Siemowit was killed by Shvarn's troops and his son Konrad II
Konrad II of Masovia
Konrad II of Masovia was the eldest son of Siemowit I of Masovia and his wife Perejesława, daughter of Daniel of Galicia....
was taken prisoner. The Polish relief force did not arrive in time and was later defeated in a battle at Długosiodło on August 5, 1262.
In 1264 king Daniel of Galicia died and Shvarn received nominal overlordship over all of Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia as its' duke. Immediately he mounted a major campaign against Poland, this time aiming for Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland is one of the historical regions of Poland, with its capital in the city of Kraków. It forms the southeastern corner of the country, and should not be confused with the modern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, which covers only a small, southern part of Lesser Poland...
. However, although joint armies managed to plunder Skaryszew
Skaryszew
Skaryszew is a town in Radom County, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,922 inhabitants ....
, Tarczek
Tarczek
Tarczek is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Pawłów, within Starachowice County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It lies approximately west of Pawłów, south of Starachowice, and east of the regional capital Kielce....
and Wiślica
Wislica
Wiślica is a village in Busko County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Wiślica. It lies on the Nida River, approximately south of Busko-Zdrój and south of the regional capital Kielce...
, this time the campaign was less successful and the allied Ruthenian and Lithuanian armies were repelled. The Yotvingian
Yotvingians
Yotvingians or Sudovians were a Baltic people with close cultural ties to the Lithuanians and Prussians...
auxiliaries were defeated by Bolesław V the Chaste at the Battle of Brańsk
Battle of Brańsk
In 1264, the Duke of Krakow, Boleslaw V the Chaste organized an expedition against Yotvingia, who were allied with Shvarn, the Duke of the Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia....
. The following year Bolesław mounted a counter-offensive against Shvarn and his brother Vasilko Romanovich
Vasilko Romanovich
Vasilko Romanovich , Prince of Belz , Prince of Brest , and Prince of Volhynia .He was the son of Roman the Great, and the younger brother of Daniel of Galicia....
, and defeated the earlier on June 19, 1266 at Wrota. This weakened Shvarn's position in his own domain. he also won the battle of plastic and beat them up.
In the meantime in 1263 Mindaugas of Lithuania was murdered. In the chaos that followed Mindaugas
Mindaugas
Mindaugas was the first known Grand Duke of Lithuania and the only King of Lithuania. Little is known of his origins, early life, or rise to power; he is mentioned in a 1219 treaty as an elder duke, and in 1236 as the leader of all the Lithuanians...
' assassination, the lands of the Grand Duchy were in disarray, with both local and foreign rulers struggling for power. Shvarn gave his support to Vaišvilkas
Vaišvilkas
Vaišelga or Vaišvilkas was the Grand Duke of Lithuania...
, one of Mindaugas' sons and his brother-in-law. Together they managed to depose Treniota
Treniota
Treniota was the Grand Duke of Lithuania .Treniota was the nephew of Mindaugas, the first and only king of Lithuania. While Mindaugas had converted to Christianity in order to discourage Livonian Order and Teutonic Knights attacks on Lithuania, becoming king in the process, Treniota remained a...
and expel Dovmont
Daumantas of Pskov
Daumantas, later Dovmont , Christian name Timothy , ; c. 1240? – May 17, 1299), was a Lithuanian princeling best remembered as a military leader of the Pskov Republic between 1266 and 1299...
all the way to Pskov
Pskov
Pskov is an ancient city and the administrative center of Pskov Oblast, Russia, located in the northwest of Russia about east from the Estonian border, on the Velikaya River. Population: -Early history:...
. After Vaišvilkas returned to monastic life in 1267, Shvarn became the new Grand Duke. No details are known about Shvarno's rule over Lithuania and he most likely did not gain a strong foothold in that country. However, he was apparently fairly successful in expanding his borders. Following successful military campaigns, in 1267 he defeated his brother Mstislav in the battle of the Yaselda River and captured Turov
Turau
Turaŭ or Turaw is a town in the Zhytkavichy Raion of Homiel Province of Belarus and the former capital of the medieval Principality of Turov and Pinsk.-History:...
and Pinsk
Pinsk
Pinsk , a town in Belarus, in the Polesia region, traversed by the river Pripyat, at the confluence of the Strumen and Pina rivers. The region was known as the Marsh of Pinsk. It is a fertile agricultural center. It lies south-west of Minsk. The population is about 130,000...
. He then campaigned against the Volga Tatars
Volga Tatars
The Volga Tatars are the largest subgroup of the Tatars, native to the Volga region.They account for roughly six out of seven million Tatars worldwide....
and defeated khan
Khan (title)
Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289...
Balaklay in the battle of Kojdanow (modern Dzyarzhynsk
Dzyarzhynsk
Dzyarzhynsk or Dzerzhinsk; formerly "Koidanova" , in the Stoubcy district of Belarus, is a city with a history dating to the 11th century.-1st century–17th century:...
, Belarus), which allowed Shvarn to capture the towns of Mozyr, Chernigov, Karachev
Karachev
Karachev is an old town in Karachevsky District of Bryansk Oblast, Russia. In the Middle Ages, it was the capital of one of the Upper Principalities, until its rulers moved their seat to Peremyshl. Its old architecture was heavily damaged during the World War II...
and 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:...
. The struggle for power within Lithuania however continued. Before a clear winner could emerge, Shvarm died in Kholm some time between 1269 and 1271. He was buried in an Orthodox Cathedral that once stood on a place now occupied by the Basilica of the Birth of the Virgin Mary. After his death most of his lands reverted back to Lithuania and came under control of Traidenis
Traidenis
Traidenis was the Grand Duke Lithuania from 1270 till 1282. He is the second most prominent, after Mindaugas, Grand Duke of Lithuania in the 13th century. His reign ended a seven-year unrest period after Mindaugas was assassinated in 1263 and firmly established the Grand Duchy as a pagan state...
, a previously less-known noble from Lithuanian Highlands
Aukštaitija
Aukštaitija is the name of one of five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. The name comes from the relatively high elevation of the region, particularly the eastern parts.-Geography:...
.
See also
- List of rulers of Halych and Volhynia
- List of Belarusian rulers
- List of Lithuanian rulers