Languages Old East Slavic Government Monarchy Preceded by Succeeded by Capital Kiev | Religion Eastern Orthodox Established 1132 Founded 1132 Date dissolved 1471 | |
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The Principality of Kiev (Old East Slavic: Киевское князство, Ukrainian: Київське князівство) was a Ruthenian state in the regions of central Ukraine around the city of Kiev that existed after the fragmentation of the Kievan Rus' in the early 12th century.
Contents
Territory
The Principality of Kiev occupied land areas on both banks of the Dnieper River, bordering the Principality of Polotsk to the north-west, the Principality of Chernigov to the north-east, Poland to the west, the Principality of Galicja to the south-west and Cumania to the south-east. Later, Kiev would be bordered by the separated Principality of Turov-Pinsk to the north and the joined Principality of Galicja-Volhynia to the west.
History
The region of the Kievan Rus' fragmented in the early 12th century and a number of semi-autonomous successor states arose. Kiev remained the core of the country and was the center of the spiritual life with the office of the Metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox Church in Kiev.
Following the death of Mstislav I of Kiev in 1132, the semi-autonomous states were de facto independent and so forth brought the emergence of the Principality of Kiev as a separate principality.
The importance of the Kievan Principality began to decline. In the years 1150-1180 many of its cities such as Vyshhorod, Kaniv, and Belgorod sought independence as individual principalities. The emergence of the principalities of Vladimir-Suzdal and Galicia-Volhynia resulted in the transition of the political and cultural center of Rus' as well as the migration of citizens to cities like Vladimir and Halych.
The Mongol invasion of Rus' left the Principality of Kiev in a severely ruined state. Following the invasion, it was now under the formal suzerainty of the Grand Prince of Vladimir-Suzdal, Alexander Nevsky, whom in turn was a vassal to the Mongols. After the Battle of Irpen in 1321, Kiev was the object of desire among the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, and it was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1362. The duchy formally existed as a distinct entity until 1471 when it was converted into the Kiev Voivodeship
Grand Duchy
After Mongol invasion of Rus'
Principality did not have own ruler and was ruled by viceroys (voivodes).
Olgovichi, Prince of Putivl
Principality was ruled by princes of Olshanski and Olgovichi.
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Principality was ruled by princes of Olshanski and Olelkovichi.