Battle on the Irpen' River
Encyclopedia
The Battle on the Irpin River occurred in early 1320s between the armies of Gediminas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, and Prince (knyaz
) Stanislav of Kiev, allied with Oleg of Pereyaslavl' and Roman of Bryansk. On the small Irpin River
about 23 km (14.3 mi) south west of Kiev, Gediminas resoundingly defeated Stanislav and his allies. He then besieged and conquered Kiev
sending Stanislav, the last descendant of the Rurik Dynasty
to ever rule Kiev, into exile first in Bryansk
and then in Ryazan
. Theodor
, brother of Gediminas, and Algimantas, son of Mindaugas from the Olshanski
family, were installed in Kiev.
As the result of these events the rulers of Kiev and other lands that used to be in the heartland of Kievan Rus'
had to accept the seniority of Lithuanian Grand Dukes. However, an account from 1331 possibly shows that Theodor was still paying a tribute to the Mongols. Lithuanians gained full control of the city only in 1362 after the Battle of Blue Waters
against the Golden Horde
.
. No other sources actively collaborate with the story, many names mentioned in the chronicles do not appear anywhere else, details of the account are borrowed from earlier and later campaigns. However, more careful analysis of all available sources would show that while details and names are confused and tangled, the story has basis and should not be dismissed outright.
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....
) Stanislav of Kiev, allied with Oleg of Pereyaslavl' and Roman of Bryansk. On the small Irpin River
Irpin River
Irpin’ , often called Irpen’ as its name is pronounced in Russian, is a river in Ukraine, a right tributary of the Dnieper.It is 162 km in length and flows through the city of Irpin'. The location where Irpin' enters the Dnieper river falls into the Kiev Reservoir which the Dnieper forms...
about 23 km (14.3 mi) south west of Kiev, Gediminas resoundingly defeated Stanislav and his allies. He then besieged and conquered 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....
sending Stanislav, the last descendant 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...
to ever rule Kiev, into exile first in 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...
and then in Ryazan
Ryazan
Ryazan is a city and the administrative center of Ryazan Oblast, Russia. It is located on the Oka River southeast of Moscow. Population: The strategic bomber base Dyagilevo is just west of the city, and the air base of Alexandrovo is to the southeast as is the Ryazan Turlatovo Airport...
. Theodor
Fiodor of Kiev
Fiodor of Kiev , was a prince of Kiev. He was the son of Butvydas, and a younger brother of Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania. Only a couple of short notes survive regarding Fiodor's life....
, brother of Gediminas, and Algimantas, son of Mindaugas from the Olshanski
Olshanski
Olshanski was a Lithuanian princely family from Galšia , Belarus, which used to be a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Their Coat of Arms was Hipocentaur...
family, were installed in Kiev.
As the result of these events the rulers of Kiev and other lands that used to be in the heartland 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....
had to accept the seniority of Lithuanian Grand Dukes. However, an account from 1331 possibly shows that Theodor was still paying a tribute to the Mongols. Lithuanians gained full control of the city only in 1362 after the Battle of Blue Waters
Battle of Blue Waters
The Battle of Blue Waters was a medieval battle fought at some time between 24 September and 25 December 1362 near the Syni Vody of the Southern Bug between the armies of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Golden Horde....
against the Golden Horde
Golden Horde
The Golden Horde was a Mongol and later Turkicized khanate that formed the north-western sector of the Mongol Empire...
.
Historical basis
For a while historians did not believe that the battle actually took place. Information about it comes from generally confused and unreliable Ukrainian and Lithuanian ChroniclesLithuanian 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...
. No other sources actively collaborate with the story, many names mentioned in the chronicles do not appear anywhere else, details of the account are borrowed from earlier and later campaigns. However, more careful analysis of all available sources would show that while details and names are confused and tangled, the story has basis and should not be dismissed outright.