Vladimir III Svyatoslavich
Encyclopedia
Vladimir III Svyatoslavich (after 1143 - autumn of 1200) was a Rus'
prince (a member of the Rurik dynasty
). His baptismal name was Boris. He was prince of Gomiy (1164-?), of Novgorod
(1180-1181, 1181-1182), of Karachev
(1194-?), and probably of Novgorod-Seversk
(1198-1200).
(who later become the Grand Prince of Kiev), by his wife Maria Vasilkovna of Polotsk. His father appointed Vladimir to Gomiy (which was an important regional center) when prince Svyatoslav Olgovich of Chernigov (Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich’s uncle) died on February 15, 1164.
In 1175, Vladimir commanded the vanguard force when his father accompanied Mikhalko
and Vsevolod Yurevich whom the townspeople of Suzdalia
had invited to be their prince. On June 15, they won the day against Mstislav Rostislavich of Rostov and Yaropolk Rostislavich of Vladimir. Shortly afterwards, Mikhalko and Vsevolod Yurevich gave many gifts to Vladimir.
When war broke out in Suzdalia in the winter of 1177, Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich sent his sons (Vladimir and Oleg
) to help Vsevolod Yurevich attack prince Gleb Rostislavich of Ryazan, who was harboring Mstislav and Yaropolk Rostislavich. In 1179, Vsevolod Yurevich invited Vladimir to Suzdalia and gave to Vladimir his niece, the daughter of his deceased brother Mikhalko Yurevich, as wife. Vladimir returned to Chernigov, where he presented his wife to his father.
On June 14, 1180, prince Mstislav Rostislavich
of Novgorod died. For reasons not given, the townsmen chose not to invite another Rostislavich (a member of the dynasty of the princes of Smolensk
) or Vsevolod Yurevich of Suzdalia; instead, they asked Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich to send a son. He dispatched Vladimir and the Novgorodians enthroned him on August 17.
Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich’s increased power, however, strained his relations with the prince of Suzdalia; the latter marched against prince Roman Glebovich of Ryazan and take Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich’s son (Yaroslav’s brother) Gleb Svyatoslavich
captive. Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich assembled all his brothers and the Cumans
to avenge himself against Vsevolod Yurevich and to free from captivity his son; Vladimir also brought Novgorodian troops. The campaign, however, turned into a farce: Vsevolod Yurevich deftly deflected Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich’s every attempt to initiate battle.
Around March of 1181, Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich accompanied Vladimir to Novgorod. The Novgorod First Chronicle
suggests that the Novgorodians took Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich to become their prince and he entered Novgorod as their ruler. To judge from later information, Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich planned to remain in Novgorod for a short period of time, hand it over to his son, and then return to Kiev. Before leaving Novgorod, Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich secured his authority there; this is confirmed by the citizens’ decision to install Vladimir as prince. However, at the beginning of 1182, it would seem, the Novgorodians expelled Vladimir and he returned to his father.
At the beginning of 1183, Vsevolod Yurevich declared war on the Volga Bulgars
and asked Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich for assistance. The latter complied by sending his eldest son, Vladimir.
After learning of Igor Svyatoslavich’s defeat at the Kayala River on May 12, 1185, Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich sent his two sons (Vladimir and Oleg) to the Poseme region (along the Seym River
) to serve as interim defenders of the Seversk towns
. The information that he sent two sons suggests that he ordered them to occupy Rylsk
and Putyvl
, which had recently lost their princes. Their main task would have been to close the “gates into the land of Rus'
”. According to the chronicler, the Cumans
assembled their entire nation to march against Rus’, but the khan
s argued. Finally, Khan Koza attacked Putivl but failed to take it. After Koza pillaged the region, Vladimir and Oleg Svyatoslavich departed from Putivl and Rylsk.
In 1192, Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich sent his three sons (Vladimir, Vsevolod
and Mstislav) against the Cumans who had frequently pillaged the Chernigov lands, and he placed Igor Svyatoslavich
(his cousin) in command of the campaign. The purpose of the campaign was to plunder Cuman camps. The Olgovichi ventured deep into the steppe
, past Kursk
into the upper reaches of the Oskol River
. However the nomads assembled in great numbers and awaited the princes; on seeing that he was outnumbered, Igor Svyatoslavich resolutely ordered his troops to steal away under the cover of darkness.
Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich died during the last week of July 1194; his death changed the order of seniority among the Olgovichi: his sons became answerable to their uncle prince Yaroslav II Vsevolodovich
of Chernigov, the new senior prince of the dynasty.
From 1196, Vladimir is never mentioned as participating in campaigns. It would appear, therefore, that he had withdrawn from the political arena, perhaps owing to poor health.
On an unspecified date in 1198, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich died, and Igor Svyatoslavich became the prince of Chernigov. It is difficult to determine who succeeded Igor Svyatoslavich to Novgorod-Seversk: the rightful claimant to the town was likely Vladimir who was the senior prince of the senior branch of the Olgovichi.
Vladimir was probably interred in the Church of the Annuciation in Chernigov that his father had built.
They evidently had no sons.
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 Boris. He was prince of Gomiy (1164-?), of Novgorod
Novgorod Republic
The Novgorod Republic was a large medieval Russian state which stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Ural Mountains between the 12th and 15th centuries, centred on the city of Novgorod...
(1180-1181, 1181-1182), of 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...
(1194-?), and probably of Novgorod-Seversk
Principality of Novgorod-Seversk
The Principality of Novgorod-Seversk was a medieval Rus' principality centered on the town now called Novhorod-Siverskyi. The principality was aligned to the Principality of Chernigov. It may have been created in 1139, the date of one modern authority...
(1198-1200).
His early life
He was the eldest son of Svyatoslav VsevolodovichSviatoslav III of Kiev
Sviatoslav III Vsevolodovich , Prince of Turov , Vladimir and Volyn , Pinsk , Novgorod-Seversky , Chernigov , Grand Prince of Kiev...
(who later become the Grand Prince of Kiev), by his wife Maria Vasilkovna of Polotsk. His father appointed Vladimir to Gomiy (which was an important regional center) when prince Svyatoslav Olgovich of Chernigov (Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich’s uncle) died on February 15, 1164.
In 1175, Vladimir commanded the vanguard force when his father accompanied Mikhalko
Mikhail of Vladimir
Mikhalko Yuryevich , Prince of Torchesk , Vladimir and Suzdal and Grand Prince of Kiev ....
and Vsevolod Yurevich whom the townspeople of 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...
had invited to be their prince. On June 15, they won the day against Mstislav Rostislavich of Rostov and Yaropolk Rostislavich of Vladimir. Shortly afterwards, Mikhalko and Vsevolod Yurevich gave many gifts to Vladimir.
When war broke out in Suzdalia in the winter of 1177, Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich sent his sons (Vladimir and Oleg
Oleg III Svyatoslavich (Prince of Chernigov)
Oleg III Svyatoslavich was a Rus' prince . His baptismal name was Feodosy. He was prince of Vshchizh , of Novgorod-Seversk , and of Chernigov .-His life:...
) to help Vsevolod Yurevich attack prince Gleb Rostislavich of Ryazan, who was harboring Mstislav and Yaropolk Rostislavich. In 1179, Vsevolod Yurevich invited Vladimir to Suzdalia and gave to Vladimir his niece, the daughter of his deceased brother Mikhalko Yurevich, as wife. Vladimir returned to Chernigov, where he presented his wife to his father.
On June 14, 1180, prince Mstislav Rostislavich
Mstislav Rostislavich
Mstislav Rostislavich , known as "The Brave" , was Prince of Smolensk and Prince of Novgorod. He should not be confused with another prince of the same name, Mstislav Rostislavich Bezokii , who was Prince of Rostov and also Prince of Novgorod and who died in...
of Novgorod died. For reasons not given, the townsmen chose not to invite another Rostislavich (a member of the dynasty of the princes of Smolensk
Principality of Smolensk
The Principality of Smolensk was a Kievan Rus' lordship from the eleventh to the fifteenth century...
) or Vsevolod Yurevich of Suzdalia; instead, they asked Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich to send a son. He dispatched Vladimir and the Novgorodians enthroned him on August 17.
Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich’s increased power, however, strained his relations with the prince of Suzdalia; the latter marched against prince Roman Glebovich of Ryazan and take Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich’s son (Yaroslav’s brother) Gleb Svyatoslavich
Gleb Svyatoslavich (Prince of Chernigov)
Gleb Svyatoslavich was a Rus' prince . His baptismal name was Pakhomy. He was prince of Kaniv , of Belgorod , and of Chernigov . He helped to pay for the Church of St...
captive. Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich assembled all his brothers and the Cumans
Cumans
The Cumans were Turkic nomadic people comprising the western branch of the Cuman-Kipchak confederation. After Mongol invasion , they decided to seek asylum in Hungary, and subsequently to Bulgaria...
to avenge himself against Vsevolod Yurevich and to free from captivity his son; Vladimir also brought Novgorodian troops. The campaign, however, turned into a farce: Vsevolod Yurevich deftly deflected Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich’s every attempt to initiate battle.
Around March of 1181, Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich accompanied Vladimir to Novgorod. The Novgorod First Chronicle
Novgorod First Chronicle
The Novgorod First Chronicle or The Chronicle of Novgorod, 1016-1471 is the most ancient extant chronicle of the Novgorod Republic. It reflects a tradition different from the Kievan Primary Chronicle...
suggests that the Novgorodians took Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich to become their prince and he entered Novgorod as their ruler. To judge from later information, Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich planned to remain in Novgorod for a short period of time, hand it over to his son, and then return to Kiev. Before leaving Novgorod, Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich secured his authority there; this is confirmed by the citizens’ decision to install Vladimir as prince. However, at the beginning of 1182, it would seem, the Novgorodians expelled Vladimir and he returned to his father.
At the beginning of 1183, Vsevolod Yurevich declared war on the Volga Bulgars
Volga Bulgaria
Volga Bulgaria, or Volga–Kama Bolghar, is a historic Bulgar state that existed between the seventh and thirteenth centuries around the confluence of the Volga and Kama rivers in what is now Russia.-Origin:...
and asked Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich for assistance. The latter complied by sending his eldest son, Vladimir.
After learning of Igor Svyatoslavich’s defeat at the Kayala River on May 12, 1185, Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich sent his two sons (Vladimir and Oleg) to the Poseme region (along the Seym River
Seym River
Seym is a river in Russia and Ukraine. Its length is 748 km and its basin area about 27,500 km². It is the largest tributary of the Desna....
) to serve as interim defenders of the Seversk towns
Severia
Severia or Siveria is a historical region in present-day northern Ukraine and southwestern Russia, centered around the city of Novhorod-Siverskyi in Ukraine.-Severians:...
. The information that he sent two sons suggests that he ordered them to occupy Rylsk
Rylsk
Rylsk is a town and the administrative center of Rylsky District of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Seym River southwest of Kursk. Population: 19,000 .-History:...
and Putyvl
Putyvl
Putyvl or Putivl is a town in north-east Ukraine, in Sumy Oblast. Currently about 20,000 people live in Putyvl.-History:One of the original Siverian towns, Putyvl was first mentioned as early as 1146 as an important fortress contested between Chernigov and Novgorod-Seversky principalities of...
, which had recently lost their princes. Their main task would have been to close the “gates into the land of 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....
”. According to the chronicler, the Cumans
Cumans
The Cumans were Turkic nomadic people comprising the western branch of the Cuman-Kipchak confederation. After Mongol invasion , they decided to seek asylum in Hungary, and subsequently to Bulgaria...
assembled their entire nation to march against Rus’, but 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...
s argued. Finally, Khan Koza attacked Putivl but failed to take it. After Koza pillaged the region, Vladimir and Oleg Svyatoslavich departed from Putivl and Rylsk.
In 1192, Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich sent his three sons (Vladimir, Vsevolod
Vsevolod IV of Kiev
Vsevolod IV Svyatoslavich the Red was a Rus' prince . His baptismal name was Daniil...
and Mstislav) against the Cumans who had frequently pillaged the Chernigov lands, and he placed Igor Svyatoslavich
Igor Svyatoslavich
Igor Svyatoslavich the Brave was a Rus’ prince...
(his cousin) in command of the campaign. The purpose of the campaign was to plunder Cuman camps. The Olgovichi ventured deep into the steppe
Steppe
In physical geography, steppe is an ecoregion, in the montane grasslands and shrublands and temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biomes, characterized by grassland plains without trees apart from those near rivers and lakes...
, past Kursk
Kursk
Kursk is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym Rivers. The area around Kursk was site of a turning point in the Russian-German struggle during World War II and the site of the largest tank battle in history...
into the upper reaches of the Oskol River
Oskol River
Oskol is a river in Russia and Ukraine. It is a left tributary of the Seversky Donets. It is 436 km long, with a drainage basin of 14,680 km²....
. However the nomads assembled in great numbers and awaited the princes; on seeing that he was outnumbered, Igor Svyatoslavich resolutely ordered his troops to steal away under the cover of darkness.
Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich died during the last week of July 1194; his death changed the order of seniority among the Olgovichi: his sons became answerable to their uncle prince Yaroslav II Vsevolodovich
Yaroslav II Vsevolodovich
Yaroslav II Vsevolodovich was a Rus’ prince . He was prince of Ropesk , of Starodub , and of Chernigov...
of Chernigov, the new senior prince of the dynasty.
From 1196, Vladimir is never mentioned as participating in campaigns. It would appear, therefore, that he had withdrawn from the political arena, perhaps owing to poor health.
On an unspecified date in 1198, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich died, and Igor Svyatoslavich became the prince of Chernigov. It is difficult to determine who succeeded Igor Svyatoslavich to Novgorod-Seversk: the rightful claimant to the town was likely Vladimir who was the senior prince of the senior branch of the Olgovichi.
Vladimir was probably interred in the Church of the Annuciation in Chernigov that his father had built.
Marriage
#1179: Evdokia Mikhaylovna, the daughter of prince Mikhalko Yurevich of VladimirMikhail of Vladimir
Mikhalko Yuryevich , Prince of Torchesk , Vladimir and Suzdal and Grand Prince of Kiev ....
They evidently had no sons.
Ancestors
Sources
- Dimnik, Martin: The Dynasty of Chernigov - 1146-1246; Cambridge University Press, 2003, Cambridge; ISBN 978-0521-03981-9.