ThePrincipality of Ryazan (Russian:Рязанское княжество), later known as theGrand Principality of Ryazan (Russian:Великое княжество Рязанское), was aprincipality from 1129 to 1521.^[1] Its capital was the city ofRyazan, now known as Old Ryazan, which wasdestroyed in 1237 during theMongol invasions.^[2] The capital was moved to Pereyaslavl-Ryazansky, later renamed Ryazan.

Principality of Ryazan Grand Principality of Ryazan Великое княжество Рязанское (Russian)
1129–1521
Symbol
Principality of Ryazanc. 1350
Status	Principality
Capital	Ryazan
Common languages	Russian
Religion	Russian Orthodoxy
Government	Monarchy
Legislature	Veche
History
• Established	1129
• Incorporation intoMuscovy	1521
Preceded by Succeeded by Principality of Chernigov Grand Duchy of Moscow

Initially a part of thePrincipality of Murom, it fully split off from thePrincipality of Chernigov by 1129 asMurom-Ryazan.^[3] Murom was taken by Moscow in 1392,^[4] while Ryazan later became dependent on Moscow and was formally taken over byVasili in 1521,^[3] and incorporated into the centralized Russian state.^[5] It maintained its formal independence longer than any other Russian principality.^[4]

Initially a part of thePrincipality of Chernigov, Murom-Ryazan became a separate principality under the reign of Yaroslav Sviatoslavich after he was ousted fromChernigov byVsevolod Olgovich, which remained in possession of his descendants after he died in 1129.^[3]

The political centre of the principality was later moved to Ryazan.^{[citation needed]} By the end of the 12th century, the principality waged wars with the neighbouringGrand Duchy of Vladimir. In the course of that stand-off, the city of Ryazan was burned twice in a span of twenty years from 1186 to 1208. In 1217, there was a culmination point in the history of Ryazan when during the civil war inside the Duchy six leaders of the state were killed byGleb Vladimirovich who later defected to theCumans. Around that time the duchy came under significant influence of Vladimir-Suzdal which was a factor in the fight of Ryazan to resume its sovereignty. In 1217,Gleb Vladimirovich with the support ofCumans tried to take Ryazan back out of the influence of the neighboring northern principality of Vladimir, but he was defeated by another Ryazan prince Ingvar Igorevich who in turn became a sole ruler of the state.

In December 1237, the duchy became the first of all other former states ofKievan Rus' to suffer from theMongol invasion. The duchy was completely overrun, with almost the whole princely family killed, the capital destroyed and later moved to the present-day location ofRyazan, located 40 miles north from the original site of the capital today known as Ryazan Staraya (Old Ryazan). In 1238, some of the armed forces of Ryazan withdrew to unite with the Vladimir-Suzdal army and meet with the forces ofBatu Khan nearKolomna.

In 1301 PrinceDaniel of Moscow took Ryazan due to theboyars' betrayal and imprisoned PrinceKonstantin Romanovich [ru]. In 1305 Daniel's son PrinceYury of Moscow ordered his death. The two next successors of Konstantin were killed by theGolden Horde. In 1371, the Muscovites defeated princeOleg II Ivanovich of Ryazan in theBattle of Skornishchevo. He was exiled for six months before returning to his throne. In 1380, Oleg II did not take part in theBattle of Kulikovo, although he was an ally ofMamai.

During almost all its history, the Ryazan Principality conflicted with its provincialPronsk Principality until Ryazan completely annexed Pronsk in 1483 during the regency ofAnna of Ryazan.

In 1520, Grand PrinceVasili III of Russia captured and imprisoned inMoscow the last Grand Prince of RyazanIvan V because of his relations with theCrimean KhanMehmed I Giray. In 1521, PrinceIvan Ivanovich fled into theGrand Duchy of Lithuania. After that, in 1521, the Ryazan Principality was merged with Muscovy.

• 1127–1129 Yaroslav I of Murom and Ryazan *^{exiled fromChernigov}

• 1129–1143Sviatoslav of Ryazan *^{his son}
• 1143–1145 Rostislav of Ryazan *^{lost Ryazan to Suzdal, but reclaimed it usingCumans}
• 1145–1178 Gleb I of Ryazan^{*plundered Vladimir and Moscow, but died in captivity in Vladimir}
• 1180–1207 Roman I of Ryazan^{*ruled as vassal ofVsevolod the Big Nest, Grand Prince of Vladimir, but died in his dungeon}
• 1208–1208 Yaroslav II of Ryazan^{*son ofVsevolod the Big Nest}
• 1208–1212 governors from Vladimir
• 1212–1217 Roman II of Ryazan^{*nephew of Roman I, held captive in Vladimir, but released as their vasal}
• 1217–1218Gleb II of Ryazan^{*nephew of Roman I, betrayed his uncle for Vladimir and executed Roman II and 6 of his relatives usingKumans}
• 1218–1235 Ingvar I of Ryazan^{*brother of Roman II, defeated and exiled Gleb II}
• 1235–1237Yuri of Ryazan^{*his brother, killed by Mongols, city destroyed}

• 1237–1252 Ingvar II of Pereslavl-Ryazansky^{*son of Ingvar I, his existence is disputed}
• 1252–1258Oleg the Red *^{his brother, captured by Mongols inBattle of Kolomna, but ruled as their vassal and died as a monk}
• 1258–1270 Roman III of Ryazan, the Saint^{*his son, ruled as Mongol vassal but executed for his faith}
• 1270–1294 Fyodor I of Ryazan^{*his son, resisted Tatar raids in 1278 and 1288}
• 1294–1299 Yaroslav III of Ryazan *^{his son}
• 1299–1301 Konstantin of Ryazan *^{his brother, executed in Moscow}
• 1301–1308Vasily I of Ryazan *^{his son, executed in Golden Horde}
• 1308–1327 Ivan I of Ryazan *^{son of Yaroslav III, executed in Golden Horde}
• 1327–1342 Ivan II Korotopol *^{his son, died in exile}
• 1342–1344 Yaroslav IV of Ryazan *^{his cousin, usurped the throne with Tatar help}
• 1344–1350 Vasily II of Ryazan *^{his cousin}
• 1350–1402Oleg II of Ryazan *^{son of Ivan II, in 1380 fought at theBattle of Kulikovo on Tatar side, but secretly sent most of his army to help Moscow}
• 1402–1427Fyodor II of Ryazan *^{his son, married to daughter ofDmitry Donskoy and made alliance with Moscow}
• 1427–1456Ivan III of Ryazan *^{his son, renounced his allegiance to Golden Horde}
• 1456–1483Vasily III of Ryazan *^{his son, raised in the Moscow court, married to the sister ofIvan III of Russia, an ally of Moscow}
• 1483–1500Ivan IV of Ryazan *^{swore allegiance toIvan III of Russia}
• 1500–1521Ivan V of Ryazan *^{the last Grand Prince, d.1534 in Lithuania}

• Ryazan Oblast

• (in Russian)Ryazan Principality
• (in Russian)Map of Ryazan Principality
• (in Russian)Genealogy of Princes of Ryazan