The Principality or, from 1253, Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia, also known as the Kingdom of Ruthenia or Kingdom of Rus, was a medieval state in Eastern Europe which existed from 1199 to 1349. Its territory was predominantly located in modern-day Ukraine, with parts in Belarus, Poland, Romania, Moldova, and Lithuania. Along with Novgorod and Vladimir-Suzdal, it was one of the three most important powers to emerge from the collapse of Kievan Rus'.

Roman the Great united the principalities of Galicia and Volhynia at the turn of the 13th century. Following the destruction wreaked by the Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus' (1239–1241), Prince Daniel of Galicia and other princes of Rus' pledged allegiance to Batu Khan of the Golden Horde in 1246. In 1253 Daniel was crowned King of Ruthenia by the Pope in an attempt to create an anti-Mongol alliance. However the attempts to free Ruthenia from the influence of Golden Horde khans ultimately failed. Polish conquest of the kingdom in 1349 led to it being fully absorbed by Catholic Poland.

Upon annexing Galicia in 1349, Polish king Casimir III the Great adopted the title of King of Poland and Ruthenia, and in 1434 the territory was transformed into the Ruthenian Voivodeship (), with the last remnants of the region's legal autonomy being abolished in 1506. Volhynia, which came under control of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania following a series of wars with Poland, formally became a Lithuanian province in 1452.

History

Origins

The Principality of Volhynia may have emerged as early as the late 10th century, with Vsevolod, a son of Vladimir I of Kiev, mentioned as a prince of the city of Volodymyr. Igor Yaroslavich reportedly briefly reigned as the prince of Volodymyr in the 1050s. Iaroslav Sviatopolkovich () was the only prince in Kievan Rus' to oppose Vladimir II Monomakh's reign on the grounds of agnatic seniority, but after Vladimir ousted him in 1118, his Monomakhovichi descendants established a local dynastic branch. Roman Mstislavich, the great-great-grandson of Monomakh, inherited the throne of Volhynia in 1170.

The Principality of Galicia was formed in the years 1124–1144 by Vladimirko Volodarovich's unification of the principalities of Zvenyhorod, Peremyshl, and Terebovlia. Since the 1080s or 1090s, all three had been ruled by sons of prince Rostislav of Tmutarakan,

Reign of Roman the Great (1199–1205)

Galicia–Volhynia was created following the death in 1198 or 1199 Roman was allied with Poland, signed a peace treaty with Hungary and developed diplomatic relations with the Byzantine Empire. The grand prince of Kiev, Rurik Rostislavich (Rurik II), forged a coalition of Rus' princes and attacked Galicia-Volhynia, but Roman defeated them and captured Kiev in 1200. However, because the old capital of Kievan Rus' was no longer a strong power centre by that time, Roman kept the prosperous Halych as his capital and appointed subordinates to administer Kiev in his name. He then mounted two successful campaigns against the Cumans, in 1201–2 and 1203–4. He married the niece of the Byzantine emperor Alexios III, for whom Galicia was the main military ally against the Cumans. The relation with Byzantium helped to stabilize Galicia's relations with the Rus' population of the Lower Dniester and the Lower Danube.

War of the Galician Succession (1205–1245)

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In 1205, Roman's alliance with the Poles broke down, leading to a conflict with Leszek the White and Konrad of Masovia. Roman was subsequently killed by Polish forces in the Battle of Zawichost (1205),

just before the Mongols besieged, conquered and sacked the city in late 1240. On 17 August 1245, Daniel and his brother Vasylko defeated the Polish and Hungarian forces (weakened by the first Mongol invasion of Poland and the first Mongol invasion of Hungary in early 1241) in the Battle of Yaroslavl, taking full control of Galicia–Volhynia. The brothers also crushed their ally Rostislav Mikhailovich, son of the prince of Chernigov.

Reign of Daniel (1245–1264)

thumb|page=5|Fragment of a copy of the [[Galician–Volhynian Chronicle, a literary work and historical source of the period]]

Daniel strengthened his relations with Batu Khan by traveling to his capital Sarai and acknowledging, at least nominally, the supremacy of the Mongol Golden Horde. After meeting with Batu Khan in 1246, Daniel reorganized his army along Mongol lines and equipped it with Mongolian weapons, although Daniel himself maintained the traditional attire of a Rus' prince. According to Vernadsky (1970), Daniel's alliance with the Mongols was merely tactical; he pursued a long-term strategy of resistance to the Mongols. On the other hand, Magocsi (2010) argued that Daniel submitted to the Mongols, citing the Galician–Volhynian Chronicle, which decried Daniel 'is now on his knees and is called a slave' and called this event 'the greatest disgrace'. Magocsi stated that, 'although he never acknowledged it', Daniel was a Mongol vassal, who collected the Mongol tribute, and generally helped 'establishing Mongol administrative control over eastern Europe in cooperation with those Rus' princes who could be made to see the advantages of the new Pax Mongolica.' According to Magocsi, Daniel's submission to the Mongols ensured the strength and prosperity of Galicia–Volhynia. He did renew his alliances with Hungary, Poland and Lithuania, making plans to forge an anti-Mongol coalition with them to wage a crusade against the Khan; although these were never carried out, it would eventually lead to Daniel's royal coronation by papal legate in 1253. This brought Galicia–Volhynia into the orbit of the western European feudal order, and the Roman Catholic Church.

In 1245, Pope Innocent IV allowed Daniel to be crowned king. Daniel wanted more than recognition, commenting bitterly that he expected an army when he received the crown. Although Daniel promised to promote recognition of the Pope to his people, his realm continued to be ecclesiastically independent from Rome. Thus, Daniel was the only member of the Rurik dynasty to have been crowned king. Daniel was crowned by the papal legate Opizo de Mezzano in Dorohochyn 1253 as the first King of Ruthenia (Rex Russiae; 1253–1264). In 1256, Daniel succeeded in driving the Mongols out of Volhynia, and a year later he defeated their attempts to capture the cities of Lutsk and Volodymyr. Upon the approach of a large army under the Mongolian general Boroldai in 1260; however, Daniel was forced to accept their authority and to raze the fortifications he had built against them.

Under Daniel's reign, the Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia was one of the most powerful states in east central Europe,

Final years and partition between Poland and Lithuania (1341–1392)

thumb|right|150px|Ducal seal Ladislaus Dei Gracia Dux Opoliensis Wieloniensis et Terre Russie Domin et Heres (ca. 1387)In winter 1341 Tatars, Ruthenians led by Detko, and Lithuanians led by Liubartas were able to defeat the Poles, although they were not so successful in summer 1341. Finally, Detko was forced to accept Polish overlordship, as a starost of Galicia. After Detko's death, Casimir III mounted a successful invasion, capturing and annexing Galicia in 1349.thumb|Louis I of Hungary's realm at the end of the 14th century|leftThe Romanovichi (branch of the Rurikid) dynasty of Daniel of Galicia attempted to gain support from Pope Benedict XII and broader European powers for an alliance against the Mongols, but ultimately proved unable to compete with the rising powers of the centralised Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland. Only in 1349, after the occupation of Galicia–Volhynia by an allied Polish-Hungarian force, was Galicia–Volhynia finally conquered and incorporated into Poland. This ended the vassalage of Galicia–Volhynia to the Golden Horde.thumb|right|150px|A document of Vladislaus II to Daniel Dazhbohovych written in CyrillicFrom 1340 to 1392, the civil war in the region transitioned into a power struggle between Lithuania, Poland, and Hungary. The first stage of conflict led to the signing of a treaty in 1344 that secured the Principality of Peremyshl for the Crown of Poland, while the rest of the territory belonged to a member of the Gediminid dynasty of Liubartas (Lubart). Eventually by the mid-14th century, the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania divided up the region between them: King Casimir III took Galicia and Western Volhynia, while the sister state of Eastern Volhynia together with Kiev came under Lithuanian control, 1352–66.

Following the death of Casimir the Great in 1370, Galicia–Volhynia was ruled by Vladislaus II of Opole in 1372–1379 and 1385–1387, as Lord of Ruthenia (Terre Russie Domin), being a descendant of princes of Belz and a subject of King Louis I of Hungary. Vladislaus strongly contributed to the establishment of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lviv as part of Polish Catholicisation.

Integration into the Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1392–1452)

Starting from the 1340s the elites of Red Ruthenia, both nobles and royal officials, were obliged to serve in the pospolite ruszenie (Latin: expeditio generalis) on par with Polish subjects. The obligation was included into the Statute of Wiślica, whose text was translated into Ruthenian language. In exchange for their service, nobles were granted landholdings, which accelerated the process of colonization and urbanization of the region. In 1410 military units from the lands of Lviv, Halych and Peremyshl fought under king Jogaila in the Battle of Grunwald. Ruthenian nobles subject to the Polish Crown also took part in the war for the Lithuanian throne on the side of Sigismund Kestutaitis against Svitrigaila, and in 1442-1444 Ruthenian knights fought against the Turks in the campaigns of Władysław III. Starting from 1433, Ruthenian noble families of Odrowąż, Oleski and Buczacki were involved in the wars for Moldavian throne. By the 1450s Poland had spread its influence to Western Podolia.

The change of governments and political structures led to increased competition between the local elites of Red Ruthenia, which frequently resulted in violence. For instance, in 1464 the szlachta of Lviv Land proclaimed a confederation against the powerful Odrowąż family, which had settled in the region during the late 14th century. Next year complaints against the local representative of the clan were issued by the nobles of Sambir.

Volhynia, which following the death of Lubart and deposition of his son Theodore was allocated by Jogaila to Vytautas, formally remained a principality of its own until the death of Svitrigaila in 1452, after which it became a province, and after 1566 a voivodeship, of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. That period saw the rise of powerful noble families, which increased their prestige during campaigns against Tatars: Ostrogski, Zbaraski, Czartoryski, Montowt, Sanguszko, Korecki, Hulevych (Hulewicz), Chodkiewicz, Chetvertynsky, Ruzhynsky and others.

Economy and culture

[[File:Hypatian Codex.pdf|thumb|page=377|"[In 1164] there was a great flood in Galič [;] the Dnestr River (...) overflowed as far as the Bykov Swamp. And more than three hundred men, who had come with salt from Udeč, drowned; and they took down many men from the trees and carts, which the water had swept away. [And their bread was very expensive] for that winter." – Kievan Chronicle, fol. 187r.]]

Agriculture

The economy of Galicia–Volhynia was predominantly a subsistence economy. It was based on agriculture, which was based on self-sufficient lands: the ' (). These were rural agricultural communities, owned and run by a group of related families (remnants of the earlier clan system), comparable to the zadrugas amongst the South Slavs. These economic units had their own arable land, hayfields, meadows, forests, foraging grounds and fish lakes. The main agricultural crops were oats and rye, less so wheat and barley. In addition, animal husbandry was developed, primarily horse breeding, as well as sheep breeding and pig breeding. Important components of the economy were foraging: animal hunting, honey hunting, and fishing.

Industry and crafts

Among the crafts of Galicia–Volhynia were blacksmithing, pottery, leatherworking, weaponsmithing, jewellery making, and casting. Since the Principality of Galicia–Volhynia was located in the Central European mixed forests – a forest and forest-steppe zone densely covered with forests – the construction and processing of wood became particularly developed. One of the leading industries of the principality was salt production. The Principality of Galicia–Volhynia, along with Crimea, was the only region that supplied salt to Kievan Rus' and Western European countries.

Commerce

thumb|"Moneta Rvssie" coined in 1382 based on [[groschen]]

thumb|Coins of Dux [[Vladislaus II of Opole|Wladislaus]]

Both Volhynia and Galicia had experienced a remarkable economic development in the 12th century due to their commercial advantages. In part, this was because land trade routes in Asia Minor were severely disrupted due to the Byzantine–Seljuk wars (1046–1243), diverting numerous merchants coming from the east heading for Constantinople via Alexandria in Egypt, while others circumvented Anatolia via the port of Sudak (Sougdaia) in Crimea. The flourishing of the latter commercial hub soon attracted Kievan Rus' traders, who rerouted some of the would-be Byzantine goods (occasionally through itinerant Jewish merchants) to Poland, Hungary, Bohemia and Germany, via the towns of Volhynia and Galicia.

Their new status as transit hubs for commerce between the northern Black Sea ports and central Europe brought Galicia and Volodimer-in-Volhynia tremendous wealth and increasing political power in the late 12th century. Trade and salt mining in particular empowered the boyar class of Galicia, who were able to challenge and undermine the authority of the Rostislavichi princes.

The administrative divisions of Galicia–Volhynia were retained in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth as the Volhynian Voivodeship, the Ruthenian Voivodeship (Red Ruthenia), Chelm Land, the Belz Voivodeship and Pokuttia.

Administrative structure

thumb|Galicia–Volhynia Lands in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth around 1700 (Map by [[Herman Moll)]]

Geographically, western Galicia–Volhynia extended between the rivers San and Wieprz in what is now south-eastern Poland, while its eastern territories covered the Pripet Marshes (now in Belarus) and the upper reaches of the Southern Bug river in modern-day Ukraine. During its history, Galicia-Volhynia was bordered by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Principality of Turov-Pinsk, the Principality of Kiev, the Golden Horde, the Kingdom of Hungary, the Kingdom of Poland, Moldavia and the Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights.

The principality was divided into several appanage duchies and lands:

  • Principality of Galicia
  • Principality of Peremyshl
  • Principality of Zvenyhorod
  • Principality of Terebovlia
  • Principality of Volhynia
  • Principality of Lutsk
  • Principality of Dorohobuzh
  • Principality of Peresopnytsia
  • Principality of Belz
  • Land of Chełm (Lublin 1289–1302)
  • Land of Berestia
  • Black Ruthenia, a fief of Grand Duchy of Lithuania after a treaty between Daniel of Galicia and Vaišvilkas

;Temporary divisions

  • Principality of Kiev (Kyiv) (1230–1240)
  • Principality of Turov (Turaŭ) (1230s)

{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" align="center"

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;Coats of arms

<gallery>

File:Alex Volhynia.svg|Volhynia coat of arms

File:Alex K Halych.svg|Galicia coat of arms

File:Alex Peremyshel.svg|Peremyshl coat of arms

File:Coat of Arms of Belz Principality.svg|Belz coat of arms

File:Ян Долгуш.jpg|Coats of arms belonging to units from different lands of the Polish Crown which fought at the Battle of Grunwald, including the emblem of Lviv Land (2nd from right in upper row)

</gallery>

Princes and kings

thumb|Prinz [[Władysław Opolczyk|Władysław II Opolczyk Governor of Galicia 1372–1378]]

  • 1199–1205 Roman the Great (in Volhynia since 1197, in Galicia since 1199)
  • 1205–1214 political crisis
  • 1205–1206 Euphrosine Angelina (daughter of Isaac II Angelos) as a regent for Danylo/Daniel of Galicia
  • 1206–1212: the three sons of Ihor Svyatoslavych: Volodymyr Ihorevych, Svyatoslav Ihorevych, and Roman Ihorevych.
  • 1210 Rostislav II of Kiev (short stint)
  • 1211–1212 Mstislav the Mute as a regent for Danylo/Daniel of Galicia
  • 1212–1214 Uprising led by a boyar Volodyslav Kormylchych
  • 1214–1232 Hungarian occupation, sons of Andrew II of Hungary
  • 1214–1220 Coloman, son of Andrew (King of Galicia and Lodomeria)
  • 1220–1221 Uprising led by Mstyslav the Able, who ruled in Galicia from 1221 to 1228
  • 1220–1232 Andrew, son of Andrew
  • 1232–1235 Danylo/Daniel of Galicia
  • 1235–1238 children of Michael of Chernigov
  • 1238–1264 Danylo/Daniel of Galicia
  • 1264–1269 Dual power descendants of Daniel
  • 1264–1269 Shvarn
  • 1264–1301 Lev I of Galicia
  • 1301–1308 Yuri I of Galicia
  • 1308–1323 Dual power descendants of Yuri
  • 1308–1323 Lev II of Galicia
  • 1308–1323 Andrew of Galicia
  • 1323–1349 political crisis, de facto ruled by a boyar Dmytro Dedko
  • 1323–1323 Galicia: , Volhynia: Liubartas
  • 1323–1340 Yuri II Boleslav (united as compromise)
  • 1340 takeover of Galicia by Casimir III the Great
  • 1341–1349 Liubartas
  • 1349 Galicia annexed (patrimonial) by Poland and Hungary, Volhynia – Lithuania

Notes: The senior branch of Rurikid dynasty, in the 14th century Galician rulers came in close relations with Mazovian Piasts (Duke of Mazovia) and rising Gediminids which established the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

See also

  • List of wars and battles involving Galicia–Volhynia
  • Civil war in Greater Poland (1382–1385)
  • Ruthenian nobility
  • Metropolis of Halych

Notes

References

Bibliography

Primary sources

  • Galician–Volhynian Chronicle ( 1292).
  • (in Ruthenian) Галицько-Волинський Літопис. Іпатіївський список (according to the Hypatian Codex; PSRL Vol. 2 1908) – Litopys.org.ua
  • (in Ruthenian) Галицько-Волинський Літопис. Острозький (Хлєбниковський) список (according to the Khlebnikov Codex; Harvard University Press 1990) – Litopys.org.ua
  • Галицько-Волинський Літопис. Переклад Л.Махновця (in modern Ukrainian by Leonid Makhnovets, 1989) – Litopys.org.ua
  • (in modern English)
  • Belarusian-Lithuanian Chronicles ( 1420–1575)
  • (in Ruthenian) Литовсько-білоруські літописи
  • List of Rus' Cities, Far and Near
  • (in Ruthenian) Список городів руських дальніх і близьких
  • Перелік джерел за "Крип'якевич І. Галицько-волинське князівство. Київ, 1984" (List of sources for ‘Krypyakevych I. Halych–Volyn principality. Kyiv, 1984)
  • Ілюстрації з "Chronicon Pictum" Illustrations from the Chronicon Pictum.

Literature

Further reading

Cyrillic

  • Андрияшев А. М. Очерки истории Волынской земли до конца XIV ст. Киев, 1887.
  • Болеслав-Юрий II, князь всей Малой Руси: Сборник материалов и исследований.&nbsp;— Санкт-Петербург, 1907.
  • Галицкий исторический сборник, 1854, вып. 2.
  • Греков Б.&nbsp;Д.&nbsp;Древнейшие судьбы славянства в Прикарпатских. областях // Вестник АН СССР. 1940. No.&nbsp;11–12.
  • Греков Б. Д. Крестьяне на Руси.&nbsp;— Москва,1952.
  • Иванов П. А., Исторические судьбы Волынской земли с древнейших времен до конца XIV века, Одесса, 1895.
  • Крип'якевич І. Галицько-волинське князівство. Київ, 1984.
  • Коваленко В. Чернігів і Галич у ХІІ — ХІІІ ст. // Галичина та Волинь у добу Середньовіччя. — Львів, 2001. — С.154–165.
  • Котляр М.&nbsp;Ф.&nbsp;Данило Галицький.&nbsp;— Київ, 1979.
  • Материалы для истории и этнографии края.&nbsp;— Волынския губернския ведомости, 1854.
  • Пашуто В. Т., Очерки по истории Галицко-ВольІнской Руси.&nbsp;— Москва, 1950.
  • Руссов С. Волынские записки сочинінные Степаном Руссовым в Житомире.&nbsp;— Санкт-Петербург, 1809.
  • Шабульдо Ф. М. Земли Юго-Западной Руси в составе Великого княжества Литовского. Киев, "Наукова думка", 1987.

Latin

  • Bielowski A. Halickowlodzimierskie księstwo.&nbsp;— Biblioteka Ossolińskich., t. 4.
  • Bielowski A. Królewstwo Galicji (o starem księstwie Halickiem).&nbsp;— Biblioteka Ossolińskich, 1860, t. 1
  • Gebhard L. A. Geschichte des Konigreiches Galizien, Lodomerien und Rotreussen.&nbsp;— Pest, 1778;
  • Engel J. Ch. Geschichte von Halitsch und Vlodimir.&nbsp;— Wien, 1792.
  • Harasiewicz M. Berichtigung der Umrisse zu einer Geschichte der Ruthenen.&nbsp;— Wien, 1835.
  • Harasiewicz M. Annales ecclesiae Ruthenae.&nbsp;— Leopoli, 1862.
  • Hoppe L A. Geschichte des Konigreiches Galizien und Lodomerien.&nbsp;— Wien, 1792.
  • Lewicki A. Ruthenische Teilfürstentümer.&nbsp;— In: Österreichische Monarchie im Wort und Bild Galizien. Wien, 1894.
  • Siarczyński F. Dzieje księstwa niegdyś Przemyślskiego.&nbsp;— Czasopism naukowy Biblioteki im. Ossolińskich, 1828, N 2/3;
  • Siarczyński F. Dzieje niegdyś księstwa Belzkiego i miasta Belza.&nbsp;— Czasopism naukowy Biblioteki im. Ossolińskich, 1829, N 2.
  • Stecki J. T. Wołyń pod względem statystycznym, historycznym i archeologicznym.&nbsp;— Lwów, 1864
  • Zubrzycki D. Rys do historii narodu ruskiego w Galicji i hierarchii cerkiewnej w temże królewstwie.&nbsp;— Lwów, 1837.
  • Zubrzycki D. Kronika miasta Lwowa.&nbsp;— Lwów, 1844.
  • Довідник з історії України. За ред. І. Підкови та Р. Шуста. — Київ: Генеза, 1993.
  • Галицько-волинські князі
  • Ісаєвич Я. Князь і король Данило та його спадкоємці // Дзеркало тижня. 2001, №48 (372)
  • Карта Галицько-Волинського князівства
  • Володимир-Волинський у «Галереї мистецтв»
  • Борис Яценко, «Слово о полку Ігоревім» та його доба («Slovo o polku Ihorevim» ta joho doba)
  • Волинська земля у складі Галицько-Волинського князівства (Volynśka zemľa u skladi Halyćko-Volynśkoho kńazivstva)
  • За що боролись (Za ščo borolyś)