Principality of Chernigov - Misplaced Pages

The Principality of Chernigov was one of the largest and most powerful states within Kievan Rus'. For a time the principality was the second most powerful after Kiev. The principality was formed in the 10th century and maintained some of its distinctiveness until the 16th century. The Principality of Chernigov consisted of regions of modern-day Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia.

Location

Most of the Principality of Chernigov was located on the left bank of the river Dnieper, within the basins of the Desna and Seim rivers. The principality was supposedly populated by mostly Slavic tribes of Siverians and partially by the Dnieper Polans. Later the territory of the principality extended to the lands of the Radimichs and partially the Vyatichs and Drehovichs. The capital of the principality was the city of Chernigov, the other main important cities were Novgorod-Seversky, Starodub-Seversky, Trubchevsk and Kozelsk. Ownership and influence of the Chernigov Principality bordered Murom-Ryazan Land to the north and Tmutorokan Principality to the southeast.

History

According to the Primary Chronicle, before the 11th century the principality was ruled by local tribal elders and voivodes from Kiev who were appointed by the Grand Prince to collect tribute from the local population, manage judicial trials, and defend the land from external enemies.

In 1024, Mstislav of Chernigov, son of Vladimir the Great arrived from Tmutarakan and established rule over the principality of Chernigov. Mstislav set the Dnieper river as the boundary between his sphere of influence and that of his brother, Yaroslav the Wise. This would be the first recorded attempt to settle areas of authority by agreement rather than by violence in the lands of the Rus'. The division of land between the brothers progressed in a stable position, this was easily facilitated by the vast distances of the region, where Mstislav expanded south while Yaroslav ventured north.

He began establishing Chernigov as one of the most important administrative centres in the region, whereupon he constructed defensive barriers and expanded the citadel. Fortified ramparts were built with a circumference of 2.5 km with an average height of 4 meters, vast even by the standards of the Rus. Upon the death of Mstislav after a hunting trip in 1036, Chernigov was incorporated into the realm of Kiev.

With the death of his brother, Yaroslav the Wise attained sole authority of the dynasty and claimed the principality of Chernigov, he would rule until 1054. Subsequently, his son who would eventually be titled Grand Prince Sviatoslav initiated the Chernigov branch of the Rurikids. During the civil war of the Yaroslavichi, Chernigov was contested between the sons of Sviatoslav and Vsevolod. After the death of Sviatoslav in 1076, it decided on the Council of Liubech, that the sons of Sviatoslav, Oleg and Davyd, and their descendants secure the principality. The principality subsequently obtained a certain degree of autonomy and was primarily secured thereafter.

The Principality was later split into three main apanage principalities: Chernigov proper, Novgorod-Seversk, and Murom-Ryazan. While Tmutarakan, due to its remoteness, often became contested and eventually was overtaken. Murom and later the Ryazan principality drifted away from the influence of Chernigov and after some time was contested by the Principality of Vladimir. Nonetheless, the influence of the Chernigov princes remained large and they retained the title of Grand Prince of Kiev for some time. Chernigov was one of the largest economic and cultural centres of Kievan Rus'.

List of princes

Main article: Prince of Chernigov

List of counties and cities

Below is a list of former counties and cities of the Principality of Chernigov:

Notes

Russian: Черниговское княжество; Ukrainian: Чернігівське князівство

References

^ Ohloblyn 1984.
Dimnik 1994, pp. 8, 12, 16.
Martin 2007, p. 26.
^ Simon, Franklin; Shepard, Jonathan (1996). The Emergence of Rus 750–1200. Longman. pp. 205–208. ISBN 9780582490918. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
Dimnik 1994, pp. 11–1.

Bibliography

Ohloblyn, Oleksander (1984). "Chernihiv principality". Encyclopedia of Ukraine. Volume 1. Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
Dimnik, Martin (1994). The Dynasty of Chernigov, 1054–1146. Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies. p. 509. ISBN 978-0-88844-116-4.
Martin, Janet (2007). Medieval Russia: 980–1584. Second Edition. E-book. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-511-36800-4.

v t e Principalities of Kievan Rus'
East Slavic / Rus' principalities of the pre-Mongol period (c. 880–1240) Beloozero Chernigov Drutsk Galicia (Halych) Galicia–Volhynia Goroden (Grodno) Izyaslavl (Zaslawye) Kiev Kolomna Minsk Murom Novgorod (Republic) Novgorod-Seversk (Severia) Pereyaslavl Peremyshl Polotsk Pronsk Pskov Putyvl Rostov Ryazan Rylsk Slutsk Smolensk Starodub Suzdal Terebovlia Tmutarakan Toropets Trubetsk Turov-Pinsk Uglich Vitebsk Vladimir (Suzdalia) Volhynia (Volyn) Vshchizh Yaroslavl Zvenyhorod

Principalities of Kievan Rus'

East Slavic / Rus' principalities of the pre-Mongol period (c. 880–1240)

v t e Historical regions in present-day Ukraine
Geographical regions	Central Ukraine / Dnieper Ukraine Left-bank Ukraine Right-bank Ukraine Polissia Siveria Kryvbas Eastern Ukraine Donbas Pryazovia Sloboda Ukraine Zaporizhzhia Southern Ukraine Budjak Yedisan Crimea Novorossiya Western Ukraine Chełm Land Carpathian Ruthenia Halychyna Hertsa region Lodomeria Naddnistrianshchyna Northern Bukovina Northern Maramorshchyna Podolia Pokuttia Prykarpattia Volhynia
States and tribes of classical antiquity and the Early Middle Ages	Cimmeria Sarmatia Dacia Taurica Scythia Khazaria Onoğurs Kazarig Avar Khaganate Old Great Bulgaria Ruthenia
Principalities of Kyivan Rus'	Chernigov Halych Novhorod-Seversk Kyiv Terebovlia Turov Pereyaslav Volhynia
Post-Mongol era regions	Golden Horde Crimean Khanate Principality of Theodoro Red Ruthenia Cherven Cities Carpathian Ruthenia Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia
Polish–Lithuanian regions	Belz Voivodeship Bracław Voivodeship Chernihiv Voivodeship Kyiv Voivodeship Podolian Voivodeship Ruthenian Voivodeship Volhynian Voivodeship Wild Fields
Ottoman provinces	Ottoman Ukraine Danube Vilayet Kefe Eyalet Podolia Eyalet Silistra Eyalet Yedisan
Cossack regions	Cossack Hetmanate Right-bank Ukraine Left-bank Ukraine Sloboda Ukraine Zaporozhian Sich Little Russia
Imperial Russian regions	Black Sea Cossack Host Southwestern Krai / Kyiv Military District Kyiv Governorate Volhynian Governorate Podolia Governorate Bessarabia Governorate Kharkov Governorate Kyiv Governorate (1708–64) New Serbia Slavo-Serbia Little Russia Governorate (1764–1781) Little Russia Governorate (1796–1802) Volhynian Viceroyalty Poltava Governorate Chernihiv Governorate Kholm Governorate Kharkov Governorate Taurida Governorate Novorossiya Governorate Yekaterinoslav Governorate Kherson Governorate Nikolayev War Governorate Gradonachalstvo Odessa Izmail Nikolayev Sevastopol Feodosia Kerch-Yenikale Yalta Taganrog
Austro-Hungarian provinces	Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria Duchy of Bukovina
20th-century regions and states	Ukrainian People's Republic West Ukrainian People's Republic Ukrainian State Lemko Republic Hutsul Republic Makhnovshchina Ukrainian SSR Moldavian ASSR Drohobych Oblast Izmail Oblast Crimean Oblast Lviv Voivodeship Ternopil Voivodeship Volyn Voivodeship Stanyslaviv Voivodeship Carpatho-Ukraine Governorate of Subcarpathia Kharkiv Governorate Reichskommissariat Ukraine Distrikt Galizien
Ethno-Ukrainian regions abroad	Green Ukraine Grey Ukraine Kholm Kuban Lemko Region Southern Maramorshchyna Priashiv Sian River Yellow Ukraine

51°30′N 32°0′E / 51.500°N 32.000°E / 51.500; 32.000

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