Principality of Halych

Principality of Halych
Галицьке князівство
Галицкоє кънѧжьство
Principality of the Kievan Rus'
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1124–1199 →

Coat of arms

Capital Old Halych
History
 - Succeeded from Peremyshl-Terebovlia Principality 1124
 - United with Volyn Principality 1199
Political subdivisions Principalities of Kievan Rus

Principality of Halych (Ukrainian: Галицьке князівство, Romanian: Cnezatul Halici, Old East Slavic: Галицкоє кънѧжьство) was a Kievan Rus' principality established in around 1124 established by the grandson of Rostislav Ihor Vasylkovych (Baptized as John). According to Mykhailo Hrushevsky the realm of Halych was passed to Rostislav upon the death of his father Vladimir Yaroslavich, but he was banished out of it later by his uncle to Tmutarakan. The realm was then passed to Yaropolk Izyaslavich who was a son of the ruling Grand Prince of Kiev Izyaslav I of Kiev.

History

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See also: Red Ruthenia

There are some claims of Halychyna belonging to the Great Moravian state and later to the Kingdom of Hungary. In the 10th century Halychyna was a part of Chrobatia, controlled by the Duchy of Bohemia. According to Nestor the Chronicler Red Ruthenian strongholds were conquered by Vladimir the Great in 981. Around that time the city of Volodymyr-Volynsky was established in honor of the Grand Duke of Rus. In the 11th century the Red Ruthenian towns were twice annexed by the Kingdom of Poland (1018–1031, and 1069–1080). In the meantime, Yaroslav the Wise established a "solid foot" in the region founding the city of Jarosław.

The first mentioning of Halych dates back to the times of the Hypatian Codex. As part of the Rus Principality the area was later organized as the Volodymyr-Volynsky Principality some lands of which later were organized into numerous other smaller principalities of Terebovlia, Zvenyhorod, Peremyshl. Around 1085 with the help of the Grand Prince of Kiev Vsevolod I of Kiev the three sons of Rostislav Vladimirovich (of Tmutarakan) were able to return their fathers claim and divided between them. In 1097 the Terebovlia Principality was secured after Vasilko Rostislavich by the Council of Liubech after several years of a civil war. In 1124 the Halych Principality as minor principality was given to Ihor Vasilkovich by his father Vasilko, the Prince of Terebovlia out of the Terebovlia Principality.

In 1140-41 Volodymyrko Volodarovych, the nephew of Vasilko Rostislavich Rostyslavovych, united all of them into one Halych Principality with the seat in Halych. Note that today Halych was reestablished in 14th century about three miles south of its original location after it was destroyed during the Mongol invasion in 1240's. Volodymyrko's son Yaroslav Osmomysl extended his father territories from the Carpathian Mountains all the way to the mouth of the Danube river. After the death of Yaroslav both of his sons periodically ruled the principality until 1199.

In 1199 Roman the Great, the Prince of Volhynia, annexed the principality into Halych-Volyn Principality moving his seat into the Old Halych. However, the Hungarian claims to the Ruthenian principality (Regnum Galiciæ et Lodomeriæ) turned up in 1188.

Princes of Halych

Rostyslavovychi

Monomakhovachi / Mstislavovychi

Bibliography

External links