Prince of Polotsk

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The Prince of Polotsk ruled the Principality of Polotsk within the realm of Kievan Rus' or within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the mid-9th century to 1307.

Contents

History

Rogvold, a non-Rurikid Varangian, was the first Prince of Polotsk. When Vladimir the Great returned from exile in Scandinavia in 980 to try to claim the Kievan throne that his brother, Yaropolk, held, he sought an alliance with Rogvolod through a marriage with his daughter, Rogneda. When she refused, calling Vladimir the "son of a slave," he attacked Polotsk, killed Rogvold and his son, and took Rogneda by force to be his wife. [1] Polotsk was then granted to Vladimir's son, Izyaslav, around the time of Christianization (988), and when Izyaslav predeceased his father in 1001, the throne of Polotsk was passed on to Izyaslav's son, Briacheslav, and the Polotsk line (the senior branch of Vladimir's sons) became izgoi and was not legally allowed to succeed to the Kievan throne, [2] although Bryacheslav's son, Vseslav, held briefly the Kievan throne in 1068–1069, after it was granted to him by the veche following the Kiev Uprising. [3]

List of princes

First rulers of Polotsk

RulerBornReignRuling partConsortDeathNotes
Rogvolod I
(Рагвалод)
Old Norse: Ragnvald
Rogvolod Post stamp.jpg c.920
Västergötland
945-978 Polotsk Unknown
at least three children
978
Polotsk
aged c.57-58?
First known ruler in Polotsk. It's been speculated that he and his daughter were members of the Ynglings royal family, in today's Sweden.
Rogneda
(Рагнеда)
Old Norse: Ragnheiðr
Rogneda Post stamp.jpg 962
Daughter of Rogvolod I
978-1002 Polotsk Vladimir the Great
980
(separated in 988)
eight children
1002
aged 39–40
Sometimes called Gorislava (Гарыслава). Refusing to marry Vladimir the Great, he raped her, killed her entire family and married her by force. Without any other surviving family, she and her son, Iziaslav, as per Norse royal custom, were then sent to govern jointly the land of her parents.

Kievan Rus' and its Belarusian feuds (862-1362)

Personal seal of Yaroslav the Wise Yarthewise.png
Personal seal of Yaroslav the Wise

Rurikids

The Rurikids were descendants of Rurik [ citation needed ] (Ukrainian: Рюрик) (Hrørekr), a Varangian pagan konung or chieftain, who according to the Primary Chronicle was invited to rule Novgorod in 862 and who came to become the ruler of the Northern Slavic tribes of the (Krivchians and Slovene) as well as the Finnish tribes (Meria, Chud and Ves). Later his son or grandson, Prince Ihor, became the Prince of separate Kyivan territories to the south beginning the rule of the Riurykide dynasty of Kyivan Rus. The existence of Rurik is a point of contention for historians, P. Kovaletsky and Omeljan Pritsak believe that Rurik was the same person as Hroereckr (Rorik), the 9th century Norse king of Jutland and Frisia and that pervasive myths and legends about him formed the basis for the primary chroniclers. Alternatively, Alexsei Shakmatov accepts the Primary Chronicle's account as factual and Rurik is a historic being. [4]

Partitions of Kievan Rus' in Belarusian territory under Rurik dynasty [5]
Kievan Rus', Grand Principality of Rus'
(980-1078)
            
      Principality
of Turov-Pinsk

(1078-1320)
(Divided in Turov and
Pinsk since c.1170)
Principality
of Polotsk

(988-1274)
      Principality
of Drutsk

(1101-c.1200)
Principality
of Vitebsk

(1101-1345)
Principality
of Minsk

(1101-1216)
      
To Lithuania       
To Lithuania       To Lithuania
To Lithuania
Table of rulers

(Note: As many princes ruled at different times in many places, the numbering of the princes is restricted to the Kievan Rus'/Kyiv and the Principality of Polotsk)

RulerBornReignRuling partConsortDeathNotes
Vladimir I the Great
Vladimir Basil Sviatoslavich
(Володимир Великий/Володимѣръ Свѧтославичь)
Old Norse: Valdamarr Sveinaldsson
Coin of Vladimir the Great.JPG c.958
Budiatychi
Son of Sviatoslav I of Kyiv and Malusha/Malfrida
980 – 15 July 1015 Kyivan Rus' Olava/Allogia
c.977
at least one son

A Greek nun
(widow of his brother)
c.980
at least one son

Rogneda of Polotsk
c.978
(possibly in bigamy)
eight children

Adela (of Bulgaria?)
at least two children (maximum four)

Malfrida (of Bohemia?)
Before 1000
two children

Anna Porphyrogenita of Byzantium
988
Cherson
three children

Regelindis (?) of Saxony (granddaughter of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor)
After 1011
one or two daughters

Unknown
two children
15 July 1015
Berestove
(now part of Kyiv)
aged 57–58
His early rule is characterized by a staunch pagan reaction but in 988 he was baptized into Orthodoxy and successfully converted Kyivan Rus' to Christianity.
Iziaslav I
(Ізяслаў)
Iziaslav.jpg c.978
Kyiv
First son of Vladimir I the Great and Rogneda of Polotsk
988 – 1001 Polotsk Unknown
two children
1001
Polotsk
aged 22–23
Polotsk splits rapidly from Kyivan Rus. As the eldest son of his mother, Iziaslav ruled in Polotsk alongside her.
Vseslav I
(Усяслаў)
c.990
Polotsk
First son of Iziaslav I
1001-1003 Polotsk Unmarried1003
Polotsk
aged 12–13?
His succession to his father consolidated the family's possession of Polotsk. Died without descendants.
Briacheslav I
(Брачыслаў)
Bracyslau. Brachyslau (XV).jpg c.990
Polotsk
Second son of Iziaslav I
1003-1044 Polotsk Unknown
one child
1044
Polotsk
aged 53–54
Sviatopolk I the Accursed
Sviatopolk Yaropolkovich
(Святополк Окаянний)
Old Norse: Sveinpolk Iaropolksson
Sviatopolk I of Kiev.jpg c.980
Kyiv
Son of Sviatoslav I of Kyiv and Predslava
15 July 1015 – 1019 Kyivan Rus' Unknown name
(daughter of Bolesław I of Poland)
no children
1019
Brest
aged 38–39
Yaroslav I the Wise
Yaroslav George Vladimirovich
(Яросла́в Му́дрий)
Old Norse: Jarizleifr Valdamarrsson
[6]
YaroslavWiseSeal.jpg c.978
Third son of Vladimir I the Great and Rogneda of Polotsk
1019 – 20 February 1054 Kyivan Rus' Ingigerda of Sweden
1019
Novgorod
eight or nine children
20 February 1054
Vyshhorod
aged 75–76
Prince of Rostov, Prince of Novgorod, and Grand Prince of Kyiv; during his reign Kyivan Rus' reached the pinnacle of its power.
Iziaslav I
Iziaslav Demetrius Yaroslavich
(Ізяслав Ярославич)
Old Norse: Izjasleifr(?) Jarizleifsson
Minskizjaslav.jpg c.1024
Second son of Yaroslav I and Ingigerda of Sweden
20 February 1054 – 14 September 1068

April 1069 – 22 May 1073

15 July 1076 – 3 October 1078
Kyivan Rus' Gertrude of Poland
1043
three children
3 October 1078
Nizhyn
aged 53–54
Reigned three times, threatened by the power of his relatives Vseslav of Polotsk (1068–69) and Sviatoslav II of Kyiv (1073–76). First ruler titled King of Rus' , as Pope Gregory VII sent him a crown from Rome in 1075.
Vseslav II the Seer
Vseslav Basil Bryacheslavich
(Всеслав Брячиславич)
Ia. Drazdovich Piarstsionak kniazia Usiaslava Charadzeia.jpg c.1039
Polotsk
Son of Briacheslav I
1044 – 24 April 1101 Polotsk Unknown
six children
24 April 1101
Polotsk
aged 61–62
14 September 1068 – April 1069 Kyivan Rus'
Sviatoslav II
Sviatoslav Nicholas Yaroslavich
(Святослав Ярославич)
Old Norse: Sveinald Jarizleifsson
11 History Of Russia by William Tooke.jpg c.1027
Kyiv
Third son of Yaroslav I and Ingigerda of Sweden
22 May 1073 – 15 July 1076 Kyivan Rus' Cecilia of DithmarschenBetween 1043 and 1047
five children

Oda of Stade (Nordmark)
c.1065
one son
27 December 1076
Kyiv
aged 48–49
A brief ruler during his brother Iziaslav's official reign.
Saint Yaropolk Iziaslavich Saint Yaropolk.jpg c.1043
First son of Iziaslav I and Gertrude of Poland
3 October 1078 – 22 November 1087 Turov-Pinsk Kunigunde of Meissen
c.1071
four children
22 November 1087
Zvenyhorod
aged 62–63
His rule splits Turov-Pinsk from Kyiv authority.
Sviatopolk Iziaslavich 14 History Of Russia by William Tooke.jpg 8 November 1050
Second son of Iziaslav I and Gertrude of Poland
22 November 1087 – 13 April 1093 Turov-Pinsk Unknown name
(daughter of Spytihněv II of Bohemia) [7]
c.1085
three children

Olenna of the Kipchaks
c.1094
four children
26 April 1113
Vyshhorod
aged 62
In 1093, he ascended to Kyivan throne.
Viacheslav Yaropolkovich c.1075?
Second son of Yaropolk Iziaslavich and Kunigunde of Meissen
13 April 1093 – 1104 Turov-Pinsk Unknown1104
aged 28–29?
Rogvolod II Boris I
(Брачыслаў)
Barysau. Pomnik kniaziu (02).jpg c.1060?
Polotsk
First son of Vseslav II
24 April 1101 - 1129 Polotsk Unknown
three children
1129
Polotsk
aged 68–69?
Children of Vseslav II, divided the principality between the three.
24 April 1101 - 1127 Drutsk
Gleb Vseslavich
(Глеб Усяславіч)
Hleb Mienski (silver coin, reverse).gif c.1060?
Polotsk
Second son of Vseslav II
24 April 1101 - 13 September 1119 Minsk Anastasia Yaropolkovna of Turov-Pinsk
1090
four children
13 September 1119
Kyiv
aged 58–59?
Minsk briefly annexed to Kyiv (1119-1146)
Sviatoslav Vseslavich
(Святаслаў Усяславіч)
Pechat' Sviatoslava (Georgiia) Vseslavicha.jpg c.1060?
Polotsk
Sixth son of Vseslav II
24 April 1101 - c.1129 Vitebsk Sophia
five children
c.1129
Vitebsk
aged 68–69?
Vitebsk briefly annexed to Kyiv (1129-1132)
Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh VladimirII.jpg 1053
Son of Vsevolod I of Kyiv and Anastasia of Byzantium
1104 – 19 May 1125 Turov-Pinsk Gytha of Wessex
c.1074
five or six children

Euphemia of Byzantium
c.1100
six or seven children

Unknown name
(daughter of Aepa Ocenevich, Khan in Cumania)
After 1107
no known children
19 May 1125
Kyiv
aged 71–72
Also Grand Prince of Kyiv. From his reign, the succession in Turov-Pinsk echoed the distant Kyivan disputes for the throne.
Viacheslav Vladimirovich 18 History Of Russia by William Tooke.jpg 1083
Chernihiv
Sixth son of Vladimir Vladimirovich and Gytha of Wessex
19 May 1125 – 14 April 1132

1134 - 1136

1136 - 1142

1146
Turov-Pinsk Unknown
before 1139
one child
2 February 1154
Kyiv
aged 70–71
Also Grand Prince of Kyiv.
David
(Давыд)
Davyd Vseslavich Polotskii.png c.1060?
Polotsk
Fourth son of Vseslav II
1129 Polotsk Unknown
three children
1129
Polotsk
aged 68–69?
Iziaslav II 20 History Of Russia by William Tooke.jpg 1096 [8]
Novgorod
First son of Mstislav I of Kyiv and Christina of Sweden
1129 - 14 April 1132 Polotsk
(with Drutsk)
Agnes of Hohenstaufen
before 1151
five children

Rusudan of Georgia [8]
1154
no children
13 November 1154 [8]
Kyiv
aged 57–58
Also Grand Prince of Kyiv.
14 April 1132 - 1134

1136
Turov-Pinsk
Sviatopolk Sviatopolk Mstislavich prinimaet u sebia Mstislava II, spasaiushchegosia ot pogoni Vladimira Galitskogo i Mstislava Nvogorodskogo.png 1114
Fourth son of Mstislav I of Kyiv and Christina of Sweden
24 April 1132 – 1132 Polotsk
(with Drutsk)
Euphemia of Olomouc [9]
1143 or 1144
no children
20 February 1154Also Prince of Volhynia.
Vasilko I
(Васілька)
Vasil'ko Sviatoslavovich Polotskii.png c.1080
Polotsk
First son of Sviatoslav Vseslavich and Sophia
1132 - 1144 Polotsk
(with Vitebsk and Drutsk)
Unknown
five children
1144
Vitebsk
aged 63–64
While also ruling in the senior principality of Polotsk, Vasilko managed to restore the sovereignty of his father's principality.
Sviatoslav Vsevolodovich Sviatoslav III.jpg 1123
Chernihiv
First son of Vsevolod II of Kyiv and Maria Mstislavna of Kyiv
1142-1146

1154
Turov-Pinsk Maria Vasilkovna of Polotsk
1143
eight children
25 July 1194
Brest
aged 70–71
Also Prince of Chernihiv and Grand Prince of Kyiv.
Rogvolod III Basil
(Рагвалод-Васіль)
Rogvold Borisovich.png c.1110
Polotsk
Second son of Rogvolod II Boris
1127-1129

1140-1144

1158-1159

1162-1170
Drutsk  ? Iziaslavna of Kyiv
(daughter of Iziaslav II of Kyiv)
five children
1170
Polotsk
aged 59–60?
1144-1151

1159-1162
Polotsk
Gleb Rogvolodovich c.1130?
Polotsk
First son of Rogvolod III Basil
1144-1151

1159-1162

1170-1186
Drutsk Unknown1186
Drutsk
aged 55–56?
Yaroslav Iziaslavich Iaroslav Iziaslavovich.png 1132
Second son of Iziaslav Mstislavich and Agnes of Hohenstaufen
1146-1148 Turov-Pinsk Richeza of Bohemia
1149
four children
1180
Lutsk
aged 47–48
Also Grand Prince of Kyiv.
Yuri Yaroslavich c.1112
Son of Yaroslav Sviatopolkovich, Prince of Volhynia
1148-1150

1151-1154

1157-1168
Turov-Pinsk Anna Vsevolodovna of Grodno
seven children
1168
Bogolyubovo
aged 55–56
His last reign marked the end of Kyiv involvement in the government; the principality passed directly to Yuri's children.
Andrey Yurievich Bogolyubsky Kniaz' Andrei Bogoliubskii.jpg 1111
Rostov
Third son of Yuri of Kyiv and ? of Cumania
1150-1151 Turov-Pinsk Yulita Stepanovna
four children
29 June 1174
Bogolyubovo
aged 62–63
Also Grand Prince of Vladimir.
Rostislav
(Расціслаў)
Rostislav Polotskii.png c.1110
Polotsk
First son of Gleb Vseslavich, Prince of Minsk and Anastasia Yaropolkovna of Turov-Pinsk
1146-1151

1159-1165
Minsk Unknown
two children
1165
Minsk
aged 64–65?
1151-1159 Polotsk
Gleb Rostislavich Gleb Drutskii prikhodit k svoemu ottsu Rostislavu Glebovichu.png c.1130?
Polotsk
Son of Rostislav
1151-1158 Drutsk Unknown1163
Drutsk
aged 69–70?
Boris Yurievich Death of Boris Yurevich of Turov.jpg c.1120?
Seventh son of Yuri of Kyiv and ? of Cumania
1154-1157 Turov-Pinsk Maria
one child
2 May 1159
Suzdal
aged 38–39?
Vseslav III c.1110
Polotsk
First son of Vasilko I
1144-1162

1176-1178

1182-1186
Vitebsk  ? Rostislavna of Smolensk
c.1160
one child
1186
Polotsk
aged 69–70?
1162-1167

1167-1180
Polotsk
Roman Viacheslavich
(Раман)
c.1130?
Son of Viacheslav Rostislavich and ? Viacheslavna of Kyiv
1162-1165 Vitebsk Unknown
two children
1165
Vitebsk
aged 34–35?
Great-grandson of Vseslav I.
David Sviatoslavich c.1110?
Second son of Sviatoslav Vseslavich and Sophia
1165-1167 Vitebsk Unknown
one child
1173
Vitebsk
aged 62–63?
Volodar
(Валадар)
c.1120
Polotsk
Second son of Gleb Vseslavich, Prince of Minsk and Anastasia Yaropolkovna of Turov-Pinsk
1151-1159

1165-1177
Minsk Richeza of Poland
18 June 1136
(annulled c.1150)
four children
1180
Minsk
aged 59–60?
1167 Polotsk
Viacheslav Sviatoslavich c.1110?
Third son of Sviatoslav Vseslavich and Sophia
1167-1168 Vitebsk Unknown
two children
1168
Vitebsk
aged 57–58?
Ivan Yurievich c.1140?
First son of Yuri Yaroslavich and Anna Vsevolodovna of Grodno
1168-c.1170 Turov-Pinsk Unknown
one child
c.1180?
Turov
aged 39–40?
Retired from government in 1170. After that, his brothers divided the principality.
Briacheslav Vasilkovich c.1140
Vitebsk
First son of Vasilko I
1168-1176

1178-1182
Vitebsk Unknown
two children
1186
Vitebsk
aged 45–46
Sviatopolk Yurievich c.1140?
Second son of Yuri Yaroslavich and Anna Vsevolodovna of Grodno
c.1170 - 19 April 1190 Turov-Pinsk
(at Turov)
Unknown
two children
19 April 1190
Turov
aged 49–50?
Brothers of Ivan Yurievich, divided the principality in halves.
Yaroslav Yurievich c.1140?
Third son of Yuri Yaroslavich and Anna Vsevolodovna of Grodno
c.1170 - 1190 Turov-Pinsk
(at Pinsk)
Unknown
one child
c.1190
Pinsk
aged 49–50?
Boris II c.1140?
Son of David Sviatoslavich, Prince of Vitebsk
1180-1185 Polotsk Unknown
one child
1185
Vitebsk
aged 44–45?
Vladimir II
(Уладзімір)
Vladimir Polotskii.jpg c.1140
Polotsk
First son of Volodar and Richeza of Poland
1177-1216 Minsk Unmarried1216
Polotsk
aged 75–76?
Children of Volodar, ruled jointly in Minsk, but succeeded each other in Polotsk.
1185-1216 Polotsk
Vasilko II c.1140
Polotsk
Second son of Volodar and Richeza of Poland
1177-1216 Minsk  ? Davidovna of Smolensk
(daughter of Davyd Rostislavich)
at least one child
1222
Polotsk
aged 75–76?
1216-1222 Polotsk
Minsk annexed to Lithuania
Polotsk briefly annexed to Smolensk [10]
Vasilko Briacheslavich c.1150?
Vitebsk
Son of Briacheslav Vasilkovich
1186-1221 Vitebsk Unknown
two children
1221
Vitebsk
aged 70–71?
Boris Rogvolodovich Oleg Sviatoslavich prosit Borisa Drutskogo peredat' emu plennogo Mstislava Starogo.png c.1140?
Polotsk
Second son of Rogvolod III Basil
1186-c.1200 Drutsk Unknownc.1200
Drutsk
aged 59–60?
Brothers of Gleb Rogvolodovich, possibly ruled jointly.
Vseslav Rogvolodovich c.1140?
Polotsk
Third son of Rogvolod III Basil
c.1200
Drutsk
aged 59–60?
Drutsk annexed to Vitebsk
Gleb Yurievich c.1140?
Fourth son of Yuri Yaroslavich and Anna Vsevolodovna of Grodno
19 April 1190 - 1195 Turov-Pinsk
(at Turov)
Unknown
three children
1195
Turov
aged 54–55?
Yaropolk Yurievich c.1140?
Fifth son of Yuri Yaroslavich and Anna Vsevolodovna of Grodno
c.1190-1204 Turov-Pinsk
(at Pinsk)
Unknown
one child
1204
Pinsk
aged 63–64?
Andrey Ivanovich c.1170?
Son of Ivan Yurievich
1195 - 1 June 1223 Turov-Pinsk
(at Turov)
Unknown
one child
1 June 1223
aged 52–53?
Vladimir Sviatopolkovich c.1170?
First son of Sviatopolk Yurievich
1204-1228 Turov-Pinsk
(at Pinsk; also in Turov since 1223)
Unknown
one child
1228
Turov
aged 57–58?
Briacheslav Vasilkovich c.1190
Vitebsk
Son of Vasilko Briacheslavich
1221-1232 Vitebsk Unknown
two children
1232
Vitebsk
aged 41–42
Rostislav Sviatopolkovich c.1170?
Second son of Sviatopolk Yurievich
1228-1232 Turov-Pinsk
(at Pinsk)
Unknown1232
Pinsk
aged 61–62?
Yuri Andreyevich c.1170?
Son of Andrey Ivanovich
1228-c.1280? Turov-Pinsk
(at Turov)
Unknown
one child
1 June 1223
aged 52–53?
Briacheslav II c.1190
Polotsk
Son of Vasilko II and ? Davidovna of Smolensk
1232-1256 Polotsk Unknown
five children
1256
Polotsk
aged 65–66?
Iziaslav Briacheslavich c.1210?
Vitebsk
Second son of Briacheslav Vasilkovich
1232-1262

1264
Vitebsk Unknown1264
Vitebsk
aged 53–54?
Michael Vladimirovich c.1190?
First son of Vladimir Sviatopolkovich
1232-1247 Turov-Pinsk
(at Pinsk)
Unknown1247
Pinsk
aged 56–57?
Feodor Vladimirovich c.1200?
Second son of Vladimir Sviatopolkovich
1247-1262 Turov-Pinsk
(at Pinsk)
Unknown1262
Pinsk
aged 61–62?
Constantine the Armless Konstantin Bezrukii saditsia v Polotske.png c.1230
Polotsk
Son of Briacheslav II
1256-1258

1268-1274
Polotsk  ? Alexandrovna of Vladimir-Suzdal
(daughter of Alexander Nevsky)
two children
1292
aged 61–62?
He probably used the title rex Ruthenorum . His reign coincided with a civil war between various claimants to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It is known that he renounced the right to the land of Lotigola in favor of the Livonian Order.
1262-1263 Vitebsk
Polotsk annexed to Lithuania (1256-58 and from 1274)
Yuri Vladimirovich c.1220?
Third son of Vladimir Sviatopolkovich
1262-1290 Turov-Pinsk
(at Pinsk)
Unknown
at least one child
1290
Pinsk
aged 69–70?
Michael Kostantinovich c.1250?
Vitebsk
Son of Constantine and ? Alexandrovna of Vladimir-Suzdal
1264-1287 Vitebsk Unknown1307
Vitebsk
aged 56–57?
Semyon Yurievich c.1250?
Son of Yuri Andreyevich
c.1280?-1320 Turov-Pinsk
(at Turov)
Unknown1320?
aged 69–70?
After his death Turov was absorbed by Lithuania.
Turov annexed to Lithuania
Vasilko Briacheslavich c.1220?
Vitebsk
Third son of Briacheslav Vasilkovich
1287-1297 Vitebsk Unknown
at least one child
1297
Vitebsk
aged 76–77?
Demid Vladimirovich c.1220?
Fourth son of Vladimir Sviatopolkovich
1290-1292 Turov-Pinsk
(at Pinsk)
Unknown1292
Pinsk
aged 71–72?
Yaroslav Yurievich c.1270?
Son of Yuri Vladimirovich
1292-c.1300? Turov-Pinsk
(at Pinsk)
Unknown
at least one child
c.1300?
Pinsk
aged 31–32?
Yaroslav Vasilkovich c.1250?
Vitebsk
Son of Vasilko Briacheslavich
1297-1320 Vitebsk Unknown
one child
1320
Vitebsk
aged 69–70?
Vasily Yaroslavich c.1290?
Fourth son of Yaroslav Yurievich
c.1300-1320 Turov-Pinsk
(at Pinsk)
Unknownc.1320?
Pinsk
aged 29–30?
After his death Pinsk was absorbed by Lithuania.
Pinsk annexed to Lithuania
Maria Yaroslavna Ievpraksiia kniaginia Vitebs'ka 1364.jpg c.1300
Vitebsk
Daughter of Yaroslav Vasilkovich
1320-1346 Vitebsk Algirdas, Grand Duke of Lithuania
1317
seven children
1346
aged 45–46
The only heir to the Principality, [11] she may have ruled with her husband. Vitebsk was then annexed to Lithuania.
Vitebsk annexed to Lithuania

In the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Coat of arms of the Polock and Witebsk Voivodships in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania POL wojewodztwo polockie IRP COA.svg
Coat of arms of the Połock and Witebsk Voivodships in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

The Principality of Polotsk escaped the Mongol invasion of Rus' in 1237–1239. However, pagan Lithuanians began consolidating lands of the principality, and in 1240 Polotsk became a vassal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It officially became part of Lithuania in 1307, though it retained some degree of local autonomy until the 1390s. Then the principality was abolished and became part of the Połock Voivodeship. Other principalities had the same fate in the Lithuanian Grand Duchy, such as Minsk or Vitebsk.[ citation needed ]

Lithuanian princes at Polotsk

Gediminids

In the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Russian Empire

The Lublin Union of 1569 constituted the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth as an influential player in European politics and the largest multinational state in Europe. While Ukraine and Podlaskie became subjects to the Polish Crown, present-day Belarus territory was still regarded as part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The new polity was dominated by densely populated Poland, which had 134 representatives in the Sejm as compared to 46 representatives from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. However Lithuania retained much autonomy, and was governed by a separate code of laws called the Lithuanian Statutes. Mogilyov was the largest urban centre of the territory of present-day Belarus, followed by Vitebsk, Polotsk, Pinsk, Slutsk, and Brest, whose population exceeded 10,000.[ citation needed ]

Eventually by 1795 Poland was partitioned by its neighbors. Thus a new period in Belarusian history started, with all its lands annexed by the Russian Empire, in a continuing endeavor of Russian tsars of "gathering the Rus lands" started after the liberation from the Tatar yoke by Grand Duke Ivan III of Russia.[ citation needed ]

Notes

  1. Janet Martin, Medieval Russia 980-1584 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995), 1.
  2. Martin, Medieval Russia, 27.
  3. Martin, Medieval Russia, 29.
  4. "Riuryk of Novgorod". www.encyclopediaofukraine.com. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  5. For simplifying the matter, only the most important parts of Belarusian Kievan Rus will appear.
  6. Also known as Jarisleif I. See Google books
  7. According to A. Nazarenko. It was thought not long ago that the first wife of Sviatopolk was Barbara Komnene, a supposed daughter of Alexios I Komnenos. However, the lack of tradition of such a name in the Byzantine Empire led to doubt. Today she may be considered fictional.
  8. 1 2 3 Monomakh branch (Mstyslavychi) at Izbornik
  9. Л.Войтович КНЯЗІВСЬКІ ДИНАСТІЇ СХІДНОЇ ЄВРОПИ
  10. The Smolensk ruler, Sviatoslav Mstislavich of Smolensk (son of the actual Prince of Smolensk, a.k.a. Mstislav III of Kiev), was a cousin of Vasilko II's spouse, who was also from Smolensk. It's also possible that, instad of an annexation, this reign could be interpreted as a regency for Briacheslav II, son of this Sviatoslav's cousin and Vasilko II.
  11. (in Lithuanian)Ivinskis, Zenonas (1978). Lietuvos istorija iki Vytauto Didžiojo mirties. Rome: Lietuvių katalikų mokslo akademija. p. 239. LCCN   79346776.

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References