Kingdom of Halicz-Wołyń

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Galicka-Wałyńskaje Karalewstwa
Kingdom of Halicz-Wołyń

1340 – 1349
Flag Coat of arms
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Ruś Halicko-Wołyńska
Ruś Halicko-Wołyńska.
Capital Lwów
Language(s) Ruthenian, Polish, Latin
Religion Roman Catholic Church
Government Monarchy
King of Halicz-Wołyń
 - 1340 - 1349 Lubart
History
 - Established 1340
 - Disestablished 1349

The Kingdom of Halicz-Wołyń (Ruthenian: Galicka-Wałyńskaje Karalewstwa, Polish: Królestwo Halicko-Wołyńska, Ukrainian: Галицько-Волинське Королівство, Latin: regnum Galiciae et Lodomeriae, Austro-Bavarian: Königreich Galizien und Lodomerien, Alemannic: Kenigriich Galizien und Lodomerien) was a kingdom in Eastern Europe bordered by Black Ruthenia, The Principality of Turaw-Pinsk, The Principality of Kijów, Golden Horde, The Kingdom of Hungary, The Kingdom of Poland, and The Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights.

[edit] History

Despite anti-Mongol campaigns of Daniel Halicki, he was crowned by the papal archbishop in Drohiczyn 1253 as the 1st King of Ruś Halicko-Wołyńska (12531264), his state occasionally paid tribute to the Golden Horde. The city of Lwów is first mentioned in The Chronicle of Halicz-Wołyń from 1256. After King Danylo's death in 1264, he was succeeded by his son Lew Halicki.

Lew Halicki in front of his capital, Lwów.
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Lew Halicki in front of his capital, Lwów.

Daniel's son Lew moved his capital from Halicz to Lwów and maintained the strength of Ruś Halicko-Wołyńska. Unlike his father, Lew worked closely with the Mongols and together with them invaded The Kingdom of Poland (1138–1320); although his troops plundered territory as far west as Racibórz, he did not ultimately extend the territory of his state. After Lew's death in 1301, a period of decline ensued in which Ruś Halicko-Wołyńska was controlled by the boyars.

Old Polish postcard with a view of Halicz.
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Old Polish postcard with a view of Halicz.

Daniel's dynasty also attempted to gain papal (Pope Benedict XII) and broader support in Europe for an alliance against the Mongols, but proved unable of competing with the rising powers of centralised Great Duchy of Lithuania and The Kingdom of Poland. After the disintegration of the Grand Duchy of Halicz-Wołyń circa 1340, in the 1340s, the Rurikid dynasty died out, and the area passed to King Lubart. Gradually, old Halicz depopulated to the point that its only mid-14th century inhabitants were the Metropolitan (Bishop) of Halicz and his staff.

Nativity Church in Halicz dates back to the 14th-15th century.
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Nativity Church in Halicz dates back to the 14th-15th century.

The Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania divided up the region between them: King Kazimierz III Wielki took Western Wołyń, but the sister state of Eastern Wołyń together with Kijów fell under Litvins' control, 1352 - 1366. Since 1352 when the kingdom was eventually divided-partitioned between The Kingdom of Poland and The Grand Duchy of Lithuania, most of Galicia (Central Europe) belonged to The Crown of the Polish Kingdom where it remained also after The Union of Lublin between Poland and Lithuania. The present-day town of Halicz is situated 5 km away from the ancient capital of Galicja, on the spot where the old town's riverport used to be located and where King Lubart of Halicz-Wołyń constructed his wooden castle in 1367.

Monument to King Daniel Halicki in Lwów.
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Monument to King Daniel Halicki in Lwów.

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[edit] External links