Roman Mikhailovich (Prince of Chernigov)
Encyclopedia
Roman Mikhailovich the Old (c. 1218 - after 1288 / after 1305) was a Rus'
prince (a member of the Rurik dynasty
). He was prince of Chernigov (1246/1247 - after 1288), and of Bryansk (1246 - after 1288).
(who later became prince of Chernigov, and grand prince of Kiev) by his wife, Elena Romanovna (or Maria Romanovna), a daughter of prince Roman Mstislavich of Halych
. His mother most likely persuaded her husband to name their second son after her father. Around 1243, Roman’s elder brother, Rostislav Mikhailovich was disowned by their father when he decided to stay in Hungary
.
On September 20, 1246, Mikhail Vsevolodovich was executed by the Tatars
; Roman’s patrimony was Bryansk
which controlled the water routes from Chernigov (today Chernihiv in Ukraine
) to Smolensk
and across the Vyatichi lands
to Suzdalia
. The Lyubetskiy sinodik and the Ermolinskiy Chronicle identify him as the prince of Chernigov. In the light of Batu Khan
’s directive that only those princes who submitted to him would receive a yarlik (a patent), Roman obviously visited the khan
after his father’s execution. The chronicles do not report his visit, but John de Plano Carpini
alludes to it.
If, as is most likely the case, this reference was to Roman, Batu Khan gave him the yarlik not only for his patrimonial domain of Bryansk, but also for Chernigov. On the other hand, other chronicles never refer to Roman as the prince of Chernigov. Available evidence suggests that, even though he held the yarlik for Chernigov, the town was probably occupied by Batu Khan’s official (baskak), who requisitioned it for himself; therefore Roman was merely the titular prince of Chernigov. Nevertheless, he was probably instrumental in having the bishop of Chernigov transferred to Bryansk.
Under the year 1264, the Hypatian Chronicle reports that Roman of Bryansk sent his eldest son, Mikhail Romanovich to escort Olga Romanovna, one of his sisters, to her betrothed, Vsevolod Vasilkovich of Volhynia
. 10 years later the same chronicler states that Khan Mengu-Timur
ordered a number of princes, including “Roman of Debryansk” (i.e. Bryansk) and his son Oleg Romanovich, to campaign against the Lithuanians
.
In 1288, according to an account of the foundation of the Uspenskiy Svenskiy Monastery in Bryansk, Roman became blind and was cured through the intervention of an icon
of the Mother of God
. In thanksgiving for his cure, he founded the Uspenskiy Monastery near the Desna River
.
According to some accounts, the Tatars killed him at the Golden Horde
.
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 Chernigov (1246/1247 - after 1288), and of Bryansk (1246 - after 1288).
His life
Roman was the second son of Mikhail VsevolodovichMichael of Chernigov
Saint Michael of Chernigov or Mikhail Vsevolodovich was a Rus' prince...
(who later became prince of Chernigov, and grand prince of Kiev) by his wife, Elena Romanovna (or Maria Romanovna), a daughter of prince Roman Mstislavich of Halych
Roman the Great
Roman Mstislavich , also Roman Mstyslavych or Roman the Great, was a Rus’ prince, Grand Prince of Kiev ....
. His mother most likely persuaded her husband to name their second son after her father. Around 1243, Roman’s elder brother, Rostislav Mikhailovich was disowned by their father when he decided to stay in Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
.
On September 20, 1246, Mikhail Vsevolodovich was executed by the Tatars
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
; Roman’s patrimony was 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...
which controlled the water routes from Chernigov (today Chernihiv in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
) to Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
and across the Vyatichi lands
Vyatichs
The Vyatichi or Viatichi were a tribe of East Slavs who inhabited a part of the Oka basin.The Primary Chronicle names a certain tribal leader Vyatko as the forefather of the tribe, but the modern etymology places the word as a cognate to Veneti and Vandals. The Vyatichi were mainly engaged in...
to Suzdalia
Vladimir-Suzdal
The Vladimir-Suzdal Principality or Vladimir-Suzdal Rus’ was one of the major principalities which succeeded Kievan Rus' in the late 12th century and lasted until the late 14th century. For a long time the Principality was a vassal of the Mongolian Golden Horde...
. The Lyubetskiy sinodik and the Ermolinskiy Chronicle identify him as the prince of Chernigov. In the light of Batu Khan
Batu Khan
Batu Khan was a Mongol ruler and founder of the Ulus of Jochi , the sub-khanate of the Mongol Empire. Batu was a son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan. His ulus was the chief state of the Golden Horde , which ruled Rus and the Caucasus for around 250 years, after also destroying the armies...
’s directive that only those princes who submitted to him would receive a yarlik (a patent), Roman obviously visited the 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...
after his father’s execution. The chronicles do not report his visit, but John de Plano Carpini
Giovanni da Pian del Carpine
Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, or John of Plano Carpini or John of Pian de Carpine or Joannes de Plano was one of the first Europeans to enter the court of the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. He is the author of the earliest important Western account of northern and central Asia, Rus, and other...
alludes to it.
If, as is most likely the case, this reference was to Roman, Batu Khan gave him the yarlik not only for his patrimonial domain of Bryansk, but also for Chernigov. On the other hand, other chronicles never refer to Roman as the prince of Chernigov. Available evidence suggests that, even though he held the yarlik for Chernigov, the town was probably occupied by Batu Khan’s official (baskak), who requisitioned it for himself; therefore Roman was merely the titular prince of Chernigov. Nevertheless, he was probably instrumental in having the bishop of Chernigov transferred to Bryansk.
Under the year 1264, the Hypatian Chronicle reports that Roman of Bryansk sent his eldest son, Mikhail Romanovich to escort Olga Romanovna, one of his sisters, to her betrothed, Vsevolod Vasilkovich 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...
. 10 years later the same chronicler states that Khan Mengu-Timur
Mengu-Timur
Mengu-Timur or Möngke Temür , Son of Toqoqan Khan and Buka Ujin of Oirat and the grandson of Batu Khan. He was a khan of the Golden Horde in 1266-1280.His name literally means "Eternal Iron" in the Mongolian language....
ordered a number of princes, including “Roman of Debryansk” (i.e. Bryansk) and his son Oleg Romanovich, to campaign against the Lithuanians
Lithuanians
Lithuanians are the Baltic ethnic group native to Lithuania, where they number around 2,765,600 people. Another million or more make up the Lithuanian diaspora, largely found in countries such as the United States, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Russia, United Kingdom and Ireland. Their native language...
.
In 1288, according to an account of the foundation of the Uspenskiy Svenskiy Monastery in Bryansk, Roman became blind and was cured through the intervention of an icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
of the Mother of God
Theotokos
Theotokos is the Greek title of Mary, the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches. Its literal English translations include God-bearer and the one who gives birth to God. Less literal translations include Mother of God...
. In thanksgiving for his cure, he founded the Uspenskiy Monastery near the Desna River
Desna River
Desna is a river in Russia and Ukraine, left tributary of the Dnieper. The word means "right hand" in the Old East Slavic language. Its length is , and its drainage basin covers ....
.
According to some accounts, the Tatars killed him at 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...
.
Marriage and children
#: Anna- Prince Oleg Romanovich of Chernigov and Bryansk;
- Mikhail Romanovich;
- Olga Romanovna (Elena Romanovna), wife of Prince Vsevolod Vasilkovich of VolhyniaVolhyniaVolhynia, 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...
.
Ancestors
Sources
- Dimnik, Martin: The Dynasty of Chernigov - 1146-1246; Cambridge University Press, 2003, Cambridge; ISBN 978-0521-03981-9.
- DiPlano Carpini, Giovanni (Author) - Hildinger, Erik (Translator): The Story of the Mongols whom We Call the Tartars; Branden Publishing Company, Inc, 1996, Boston, MA; ISBN 0-8283-2017-9.