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Revision as of 09:36, 21 July 2024 by Nederlandse Leeuw (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) 1174–1177 war of succession in Vladimir-Suzdal This article is about the 1174–1177 war of succession. For the 1212–1216 war of succession, see Battle of Lipitsa.
The Suzdalian war of succession of 1174–1177 was a war of succession in Vladimir-Suzdal, a complex of principalities in the northeast of Kievan Rus'. The casus belli was the assassination of prince Andrey Bogolyubsky on 28 June 1174 by his own boyars. Immediately, his surviving brothers, sons and other relatives started fighting amongst themselves about who had the right to succeed him. The conflict would not be resolved until Vsevolod Yurievich "the Big Nest" had defeated his other brothers and his nephes, and seized power across Suzdalia in 1177.
Belligerents
Andrey's son Yury Bogolyubsky was dethroned as prince of Novgorod shortly after Andrey's murder; Yury fled to the Caucasus, playing no role in the Suzdalian succession crisis. The two belligerent factions became Andrey's nephews the Rostislavichi, and Andrey's step-brothers the Yurievichi.
- Rostislavichi
Yaropolk Rostislavich and Mstislav Rostislavich were the sons of Rostislav Yuryevich (died 1151), the older brother of Andrey by Yuri Dolgorukiy's first wife. Their power base was in Rostov and Suzdal in the north, where the boyars supported them. They would ally themselves with the princes of Smolensk, Ryazan, Murom, Polotsk, and Vitebsk.
- Yurievichi
Mikhail or "Mikhalko" Yurievich of Vladimir and Vsevolod Yurievich "the Big Nest" were the sons of Yuri Dolgorukiy by his second wife Helena, and thus Andrey's step-brothers. Their power base was in Vladimir on the Klyazma in the south, as well as Chernigov (modern Chernihiv), the capital of their Olgovichi allies.
Although the nephews and step-brothers of Andrey would shortly after his death agree to recognise Mikhalko as the senior prince, with the title of prince of Vladimir, conflict soon erupted nevertheless.
List of battles
- Siege of Vladimir (1174) by Yaropolk Rostislavich for seven weeks, with Mikhalko Yurievich defending the city from within until the inhabitants demanded that he surrender to end their misery. Yaropolk was recognised as prince of Vladimir, and Mstislav as prince of Rostov, as well as Smolensk soon thereafter.
- Novgorod-Seversk – Chernigov conflict (1174), when Oleg Sviatoslavich, Prince of Novgorod-Seversk and husband of the Rostislavichi's aunt Maria, attacked the Yurievichi-allied Olgovichi of Chernigov. Oleg sacked Lutava and Morovsk, and unsuccessfully besieged Starodub, plundering its countryside. The Olgovichi then besieged Novgorod-Seversk, after which they made peace.
- Battle of the Belekhov plain near Zagor'je (15 June 1175), with the Yurievichi defeating the Rostislavichi and recapturing Vladimir. Mikhalko Yurievich was again recognised as prince of Vladimir.
- Battle of Lipitsa (1176) [ru], 27 June 1176, Vladimirian and Chernigovian troops of Vsevolod Yurievich defeated the Rostovian forces under Mstislav Rostislavich.
- Battle of Koloksha (1177) [ru], Yurievichi forces of Vladimir, Chernigov and Pereyaslavl defeated the Rostislavichi forces of Rostov, Suzdal', and Ryazan. Decisive Yurievichi victory; Vsevolod became the undisputed prince of Vladimir, imprisoning and blinding the Rostislavichi brothers.
See also
- List of wars involving Kievan Rus'
- Siege of Vyshgorod (1173), which precipitated Andrey's murder
- Battle of Lipitsa (1216), which decided the 1212–1216 Vladimir-Suzdal war of succession upon Vsevolod the Big Nest's death
References
- ^ Martin 2007, p. 128.
- Raffensperger & Ostrowski 2023, pp. 84–85.
- ^ Raffensperger & Ostrowski 2023, pp. 85–86.
- Heinrich 1977, pp. 358–360.
- Heinrich 1977, pp. 361–362.
- Heinrich 1977, pp. 363–364.
Bibliography
Primary sources
- Kievan Chronicle (c. 1200)
- (modern English translation) Heinrich, Lisa Lynn (1977). The Kievan Chronicle: A Translation and Commentary (PhD diss.). Nashville, Tennessee: Vanderbilt University. p. 616. ProQuest 7812419
- Suzdalian Chronicle (c. 1203)
- Novgorod First Chronicle (c. 1275)
Literature
- Martin, Janet (2007). Medieval Russia: 980–1584. Second Edition. E-book. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-511-36800-4.
- Pelenski, Jaroslaw (1988). "The Contest for the "Kievan Succession" (1155–1175): The Religious-Ecclesiastical Dimension". Harvard Ukrainian Studies. 12/13: 761–780. JSTOR 41036344.
- Raffensperger, Christian; Ostrowski, Donald (2023). The Ruling Families of Rus: Clan, Family and Kingdom. London: Reaktion Books. p. 309. ISBN 978-1-78914-745-2. (e-book)
Category:1170s conflicts Category:Battles involving Kievan Rus' Category:Vladimir-Suzdal