Roman the Great

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Roman of Halych receives an ambassador from Pope Innocent III, painting by Nikolai Nevrev

Roman Mstislavich (Роман Мстиславич, c. 1151 – 1205) was the Prince of Novgorod, Volodymyr, Halych and Kiev. Also known as Roman the Great.

Roman was the son of Mstislav II of Kiev and Agnes, daughter of Bolesław III Wrymouth, Duke of Poland. During 1168-1170 he reigned in the Great Novgorod. From 1170 to 1199 he ruled in Volodymyr-Volynsky, which he inherited from his father. In 1187, he made an unsuccessful attempt to wrestle from the boyars the principality of Halych. In 1197 he married Anna, by whom he had four children, including Daniel of Galicia. One of Roman's daughters Maria married Michael of Chernigov, Grand Prince of Kiev.

Roman Mstislavich gained nation-wide fame by his victorious campaign against Polovtsi in 1197-1198, 1201, and 1204. In 1199, he became Prince of Halych, uniting Halichina and Volhynia lands in the mighty principality of Halych-Volhynia. In 1202, he also captured Kiev, uniting all South-west Ruthenia under his rule. Prominent as a warlord, Roman the Great was also generally considered a wise politician. He lived mostly in peace with Hungary and Poland, but had uneasy relationships with several other neighbouring states. He was killed at the Battle of Zawichost.