Svyatoslav III Igorevich
Encyclopedia
Svyatoslav III Igorevich (1176 – September 1211) was a Rus'
prince (a member of the Rurik dynasty
). His baptismal name was Adrian. He was prince of Peremyshl
(1206, 1208–1209, 1210–1211), and of Volodymyr-Volynskyi
(1206).
of Putivl, by his wife (possibly Evfrosinia Yaroslavna), a daughter of prince Yaroslav Volodimerovich
of Halych. Around 1184, Svyatoslav was betrothed to Yaroslava Rurikovna, a daughter of prince Rurik Rostislavich
of Belgorod
.
In 1184, Igor Svyatoslavich dispatched Svyatoslav to escort Vladimir Yaroslavich
(Igor Svyatoslavich’s brother-in-law) home when the latter had reconciled with his father (Svyatoslav's maternal grandfather), prince Yaroslav Volodimerovich of Halych.
Towards the end of October, 1188, Svyatoslav married his fiancée in Belgorod.
when grand prince Vsevolod IV Svyatoslavich of Kiev
organized a campaign against Halych. The Galicians asked Svjatoslav’s brother Vladimir Igorevich
to rule Halych. On receiving the information, Vladimir Igorevich rode to Halych, and occupied it. Both Vladimir Igorevich and his brothers had blood ties to the extinct dynasty of Halych whose last member prince Vladimir II Yaroslavich of Halych (who had died in 1198) was their maternal uncle. Vladimir Igorevich gave Peremyshl
(today Przemyśl in Poland
) to Svyatoslav.
Shortly afterwards, Vladimir Igorevich sent troops against Volodymyr-Volynskyi forcing Daniil Romanovich and his mother to flee to the Poles
. Vladimir Igorevich appointed Svyatoslav to the town which had been the patrimony of Daniil Romanovich and his father. However, prince Aleksandr Vsevolodovich of Belz (who was Daniil Romanovich’s cousin) asserted his own claim to the town with help from duke Leszek I of Cracow
. The people of Volodymyr-Volynskyi betrayed Svyatoslav by opening the gates to Aleksandr Vsevolodovich and duke Leszek I. Thus, Svyatoslav not only lost his newly acquired domain to Aleksand Vsevolodovich but also was taken captive by the Poles
.
Nevertheless, according to Polish
sources, Svyatoslav and duke Leszek I became friends, formed an alliance, and sealed their pact with a personal bond: Svyatoslav’s daughter, Agafia Svyatoslavna, married duke Leszek’s brother, duke Konrad I of Masovia
. In the autumn of 1208, the Galicians expelled Rostislav Rurikovich
, who had occupied Halych for some months, and installed Roman Igorevich
(Svyatoslav’s younger brother) with his brother. Since Roman Igorevich had usurped power from his brother, Vladimir Igorevich, we may assume that he ruled with his younger brother, Svyatoslav who had returned from captivity.
King Andrew II of Hungary
took the rebellion of the Galicians as the excuse for attacking them. He dispatched Benedek (the Voivode of Transylvania) against Halych. Voivode Benedek captured the town and took Roman Igorevich captive; Svyatoslav returned to Putivl. Andrew II refused to appoint a prince to Halych; the atrocities the Hungarian troops inflicted on the Galicians suggest that the king wished to avenge himself on them for breaking their promise. Voivode Benedek tormented the people, and he and his men also gave vent to their lust by defiling married women, nun
s, and the wives of priests.
Sometime in the early part of 1210, it seems, Roman Igorevich escaped from Hungary. Shortly afterwards, the Galicians sent messengers to the three brothers admitting that they had sinned against them and begging them to save Halych from the tormentor. The three brothers set out against Benedek and drove out him from Halych. They evidently returned to the same towns that they had ruled before their quarrel. Svyatoslav, we are told for the first time, got Peremyshl.
According to the chronicler, the three brothers conspired to do away with the Galician boyar
s and, as chance presented itself, killed some 500 of them. They were also accused of plundering the boyars’ estates, of handing over their daughters to marry slaves, and of giving their patrimonies to outsiders from the Chernigov lands. Because a faction of boyars championed Daniil Romanovich’s return, the three brothers undoubtedly removed the hostile boyars from their domains and replaced them with Chernigov druzhinniki
and loyal Galicians. Because of these outrages, some boyars fled to Hungary and beseeched king Andrew II to let them have Daniil Romanovich and to help them seize Halych. The king answered their pleas by dispatching a great force with the young prince.
Significantly, Daniil Romanovich’s attacking forces were made up mostly of non-Galicians: except for the boyars who organized the revolt, the troops backing them constituted the Hungarians, the Poles
, and the princes of Volhynia
. The strategy of Daniil Romanovich’s forces was to capture the towns ruled by the three brothers, and thus Svyatoslav was taken captive by the Hungarians. After Vladimir Igorevich had fled from Halych, the boyars of Volodymyr-Volynskyi and Halych, along with the Hungarians, installed Daniil Romanovich on the throne.
The Hungarians proposed to take Svyatoslav, his brother Roman Igorevich and a certain Rostislav (who may have been Roman Igorevich’s son) that they had taken captive to the king. But the Galicians bribed the commanders to turn over the captives to them. In September, the Galicians hanged the three princes.
by his wife Anna Yurevna of Turov.
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...
). His baptismal name was Adrian. He was prince of Peremyshl
Principality of Peremyshl
The Principality of Peremyshl was a medieval petty principality centred on Peremyshl in the Cherven lands .-First mentioning:...
(1206, 1208–1209, 1210–1211), and of Volodymyr-Volynskyi
Volodymyr-Volynskyi
Volodymyr-Volynsky is a city located in Volyn Oblast, in north-western Ukraine. Serving as the administrative centre of the Volodymyr-Volynsky District, the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast...
(1206).
His early life
Vladimir was the third son of prince Igor SvyatoslavichIgor Svyatoslavich
Igor Svyatoslavich the Brave was a Rus’ prince...
of Putivl, by his wife (possibly Evfrosinia Yaroslavna), a daughter of prince Yaroslav Volodimerovich
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...
of Halych. Around 1184, Svyatoslav was betrothed to Yaroslava Rurikovna, a daughter of prince Rurik Rostislavich
Rurik Rostislavich
Ruryk Rostislavich , Prince of Novgorod , Belgorod Kievsky, presently Bilohorodka , Grand Prince of Kiev , Prince of Chernigov...
of Belgorod
Belgorod Kievsky
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...
.
In 1184, Igor Svyatoslavich dispatched Svyatoslav to escort 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...
(Igor Svyatoslavich’s brother-in-law) home when the latter had reconciled with his father (Svyatoslav's maternal grandfather), prince Yaroslav Volodimerovich of Halych.
Towards the end of October, 1188, Svyatoslav married his fiancée in Belgorod.
Prince of Peremyshl and Volodymyr-Volynskyi
In 1206, the infant prince Daniil Romanovich of Halych fled to his patrimony of Volodymyr-VolynskyiVolodymyr-Volynskyi
Volodymyr-Volynsky is a city located in Volyn Oblast, in north-western Ukraine. Serving as the administrative centre of the Volodymyr-Volynsky District, the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast...
when grand prince Vsevolod IV Svyatoslavich of Kiev
Vsevolod IV of Kiev
Vsevolod IV Svyatoslavich the Red was a Rus' prince . His baptismal name was Daniil...
organized a campaign against Halych. The Galicians asked Svjatoslav’s brother Vladimir Igorevich
Vladimir III Igorevich
Vladimir III Igorevich was a Rus' prince . His baptismal name was Peter...
to rule Halych. On receiving the information, Vladimir Igorevich rode to Halych, and occupied it. Both Vladimir Igorevich and his brothers had blood ties to the extinct dynasty of Halych whose last member prince Vladimir II Yaroslavich of Halych (who had died in 1198) was their maternal uncle. Vladimir Igorevich gave Peremyshl
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....
(today Przemyśl in 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...
) to Svyatoslav.
Shortly afterwards, Vladimir Igorevich sent troops against Volodymyr-Volynskyi forcing Daniil Romanovich and his mother to flee to the Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
. Vladimir Igorevich appointed Svyatoslav to the town which had been the patrimony of Daniil Romanovich and his father. However, prince Aleksandr Vsevolodovich of Belz (who was Daniil Romanovich’s cousin) asserted his own claim to the town with help from duke Leszek I of Cracow
Leszek I the White
Leszek I the White , also listed by some sources as Leszek II the White, was Prince of Sandomierz and High Duke of Poland from 1194 until his death, except for the short periods following when he was deposed as Polish ruler...
. The people of Volodymyr-Volynskyi betrayed Svyatoslav by opening the gates to Aleksandr Vsevolodovich and duke Leszek I. Thus, Svyatoslav not only lost his newly acquired domain to Aleksand Vsevolodovich but also was taken captive by the Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
.
Nevertheless, according to Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
sources, Svyatoslav and duke Leszek I became friends, formed an alliance, and sealed their pact with a personal bond: Svyatoslav’s daughter, Agafia Svyatoslavna, married duke Leszek’s brother, duke Konrad I of Masovia
Konrad I of Masovia
Konrad I of Masovia , from the Polish Piast dynasty, was the sixth Duke of Masovia from 1194 until his death and High Duke of Poland from 1229 to 1232.-Life:...
. In the autumn of 1208, the Galicians expelled Rostislav Rurikovich
Rostislav II of Kiev
Rostyslav Rurykovych , Prince of Torchesk , Grand Prince of Kiev , Prince of Vyshhorod , Prince of Halych . Son of Rurik Rostislavich.-References:...
, who had occupied Halych for some months, and installed Roman Igorevich
Roman II Igorevich
Roman II Igorevich was a Rus' prince . He was prince of Zvenigorod , and of Halych .-His life:...
(Svyatoslav’s younger brother) with his brother. Since Roman Igorevich had usurped power from his brother, Vladimir Igorevich, we may assume that he ruled with his younger brother, Svyatoslav who had returned from captivity.
King Andrew II of Hungary
Andrew II of Hungary
Andrew II the Jerosolimitan was King of Hungary and Croatia . He was the younger son of King Béla III of Hungary, who invested him with the government of the Principality of Halych...
took the rebellion of the Galicians as the excuse for attacking them. He dispatched Benedek (the Voivode of Transylvania) against Halych. Voivode Benedek captured the town and took Roman Igorevich captive; Svyatoslav returned to Putivl. Andrew II refused to appoint a prince to Halych; the atrocities the Hungarian troops inflicted on the Galicians suggest that the king wished to avenge himself on them for breaking their promise. Voivode Benedek tormented the people, and he and his men also gave vent to their lust by defiling married women, nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s, and the wives of priests.
Sometime in the early part of 1210, it seems, Roman Igorevich escaped from Hungary. Shortly afterwards, the Galicians sent messengers to the three brothers admitting that they had sinned against them and begging them to save Halych from the tormentor. The three brothers set out against Benedek and drove out him from Halych. They evidently returned to the same towns that they had ruled before their quarrel. Svyatoslav, we are told for the first time, got Peremyshl.
According to the chronicler, the three brothers conspired to do away with the Galician boyar
Boyar
A boyar, or bolyar , was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes , from the 10th century through the 17th century....
s and, as chance presented itself, killed some 500 of them. They were also accused of plundering the boyars’ estates, of handing over their daughters to marry slaves, and of giving their patrimonies to outsiders from the Chernigov lands. Because a faction of boyars championed Daniil Romanovich’s return, the three brothers undoubtedly removed the hostile boyars from their domains and replaced them with Chernigov druzhinniki
Druzhina
Druzhina, Drużyna or Družyna in the medieval history of Slavic Europe was a retinue in service of a chieftain, also called knyaz. The name is derived from the Slavic word drug with the meaning of "companion, friend". -Early Rus:...
and loyal Galicians. Because of these outrages, some boyars fled to Hungary and beseeched king Andrew II to let them have Daniil Romanovich and to help them seize Halych. The king answered their pleas by dispatching a great force with the young prince.
Significantly, Daniil Romanovich’s attacking forces were made up mostly of non-Galicians: except for the boyars who organized the revolt, the troops backing them constituted the Hungarians, the Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
, and the princes of Volhynia
Volhynia
Volhynia, Volynia, or Volyn is a historic region in western Ukraine located between the rivers Prypiat and Southern Bug River, to the north of Galicia and Podolia; the region is named for the former city of Volyn or Velyn, said to have been located on the Southern Bug River, whose name may come...
. The strategy of Daniil Romanovich’s forces was to capture the towns ruled by the three brothers, and thus Svyatoslav was taken captive by the Hungarians. After Vladimir Igorevich had fled from Halych, the boyars of Volodymyr-Volynskyi and Halych, along with the Hungarians, installed Daniil Romanovich on the throne.
The Hungarians proposed to take Svyatoslav, his brother Roman Igorevich and a certain Rostislav (who may have been Roman Igorevich’s son) that they had taken captive to the king. But the Galicians bribed the commanders to turn over the captives to them. In September, the Galicians hanged the three princes.
Marriage and children
#October, 1188: Yaroslava Yurikovna, a daughter of prince Rurik Rustislavich of BelgorodRurik Rostislavich
Ruryk Rostislavich , Prince of Novgorod , Belgorod Kievsky, presently Bilohorodka , Grand Prince of Kiev , Prince of Chernigov...
by his wife Anna Yurevna of Turov.
- Agafia SvyatoslavnaAgafia of RusAgafia Svyatoslavna of Rus was Princess of Mazovia by her marriage and was a member of the Rurikid dynasty.-Life:...
(after 1188 - after August 31, 1247), wife of duke Konrad I of MasoviaKonrad I of MasoviaKonrad I of Masovia , from the Polish Piast dynasty, was the sixth Duke of Masovia from 1194 until his death and High Duke of Poland from 1229 to 1232.-Life:...
.
Ancestors
Sources
- Benda, Kálmán (General Editor): Magyarország történeti kronológiája - I. kötet: A kezdetektől 1526-ig /A Historical Chronology of Hungary - Volume I: From the Beginnings to 1526/; Akadémiai Kiadó, 1981, Budapest; ISBN963-05-2661-1 (the part of the book which describes the events of the period from 1197 to 1309 was written by László Solymosi).
- Dimnik, Martin: The Dynasty of Chernigov - 1146-1246; Cambridge University Press, 2003, Cambridge; ISBN 978-0521-03981-9.