| Mstislav Vladimirovich | |
|---|---|
 Mtislav defeats PrinceRededya in single combat, painting byNicholas Roerich (1943) | |
| Prince of Tmutarakan | |
| Reign | 988 or after–c. 1035 |
| Predecessor | Monarchy established |
| Successor | united withKievan Rus' (from 1054Sviatoslav I) |
| Prince of Chernigov | |
| Reign | 1024–c. 1035 |
| Predecessor | Monarchy established |
| Successor | united withKievan Rus' (from 1054Sviatoslav I) |
| Died | c. 1035 |
| Burial | |
| Issue | Eustaphius |
| House | Rurik |
| Father | Vladimir the Great |
| Mother | Rogneda of Polotsk or a Czech woman |
Mstislav Vladimirovich[a] (diedc. 1035) was the earliest attested prince ofTmutarakan andChernigov inKievan Rus'. He was a younger son ofVladimir the Great, thegrand prince of Kiev. His father appointed him to rule Tmutarakan, an important fortress by theStrait of Kerch, in or after 988.
He invaded the core territories of Kievan Rus', which were ruled by his brother,Yaroslav the Wise, in 1024. Although Mstislav could not take Kiev, he forced the East Slavic tribes dwelling to the east of theDnieper River to accept his suzerainty. Yaroslav the Wise also accepted the division of Kievan Rus' along the river after Mstislav had defeated him in a battle fought at Listven byChernigov. Mstislav transferred his seat to the latter town, and became the first ruler of the principality emerging around it.
_en.svg)
Mstislav was one of the many sons ofVladimir the Great,Grand Prince of Kiev.[1]His exact position in Vladimir's family is disputed, because Vladimir, who had seven wives and many concubines before his conversion,[2] fathered two sons called Mstislav, according to thePrimary Chronicle.[3] One of them was born toRogneda of Polotsk, who had been forced to be the first wife of Vladimir in the late 970s.[2][4] The second Mstislav was born to aCzech woman.[3] Historians debate whether the future prince of Tmutarakan and Chernihiv was the son of Rogneda or Vladimir's Czech wife: the first option is preferred byGeorge Vernadsky, the second by Janet Martin.[1][3]
Vladimir the Great administered large portions of Kievan Rus' through his sons by placing them in towns in the borderlands.[1][5] ThePrimary Chronicle narrates, under the year 988, that Mstislav became the prince ofTmutarakan after the death of one of his brothers, Vysheslav of Novgorod.[6] Vernadsky writes that Mstislav, as ruler of Tmutarakan, assumed the title ofkhagan.[7]
Tmutarakan was an important town controlling theStrait of Kerch between theSea of Azov and theBlack Sea.[8][9] It was separated from other parts of the Kievan Rus' by thesteppes.[9] Under Mstislav, who was the first known prince of Tmutarakan, the town developed into an importantemporium for traders from the Kievan Rus' and theByzantine Empire.[10]
Vladimir the Great died in 1014 while preparing a campaign against his rebellious son,Izyaslav.[1] Mstislav remained neutral during the civil war which followed his father's death and ended with the victory of his brother,Yaroslav the Wise in 1019.[11] The Byzantine chroniclerJohn Skylitzes writes of one "Sphengos, the brother of Vladimir"[12] who assisted the imperial fleet in attacking "Khazaria" in 1016.[13] According to the historians Simon Franklin and Jonathan Shepard, this Sphengos – whose name seems to be the Greek variant of theVarangianSvein or Sveinki names – could well have been identical with Mstislav.[14]
In 1022, Mstislav killedRededia, the prince of theCircassian tribe of theKassogians in a duel after violating the agreed upon rules in the duel. Rededia proposed a physical duel without the use of arms in order to spare the possibility of more war and death for the Kassogians who were already in a semi-permanent state of war. Mstislav agreed and the duel began: Rededia immediately asserted his dominance and defeated Mstislav. Caught unaware, Mstislav unsheathed a concealed dagger and betrayed Rededia and the honour of the duel by stabbing him. Rededia later, in his dying breaths, insisted that his comrades not hold a blood vendetta to avoid further gruelling wars for the Kassogians who had already fought the Mongols previous to Mstislav's campaign. Rededia's legacy was immortalized by his fellow Kassogian bards and his name continues to live even in modern Circassian minstrels, poems and folk songs.[15] According to thePrimary Chronicle, Mstislav seized Rededia's "wife and children" and "imposed tribute upon the Kasogians"[16] after his victory.[17] Many Kassogians joined Mstislav'sdruzhina or retinue.[18] He had a church, dedicated to theHoly Virgin, built in his seat in fulfillment of the oath he had taken before the duel.[19]
In 1024, while Yaroslav the Wise was away fromKiev, Mstislav led his army, which included Kassogian andKhazar troops, against the city.[15][9] Although he could not enter the capital of Rus' because of the locals' opposition, he forced theSeverians—anEast Slavic tribe dwelling along theDesna River to the east of Kiev—to accept his suzerainty.[20][9] He transferred his seat from Tmutarakan toChernigov, which was the second largest town in Kievan Rus'.[21] Since no source mentions a local prince ruling in Chernigov before this event, historians regard Mstislav as the first ruler of thePrincipality of Chernigov.[22] He had the citadel expanded and the defensive works surrounding the suburb reinforced in his new seat.[23]
Yaroslav the Wise, who musteredVarangian troops inNovgorod, invaded Mstislav's domain in 1024.[15][22] In the decisive battle, which was fought at Listven near Chernihiv, Mstislav emerged the victor.[15][22] Yaroslav the Wise surrendered all the territories to the east of theDnieper River to Mstislav.[22][24] After this distribution of the lands of Kievan Rus' Mstislav ruled in his principality autonomously.[25] He ordered the erection of a stone and masonrycathedral, dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Holy Savior, in his capital in 1030 or 1031.[26]
Mstislav forced theAlans who dwelled along the lower course of the riverDon to accept his suzerainty in 1029.[7] He closely cooperated with his brother in the last years of his life.[15] Yaroslav and Mstislav jointly invadedPoland and occupied theCherven towns in 1031.[27] ThePrimary Chronicle narrates that they "also captured manyPoles and distributed them as colonists in various districts."[28][7]
Mstislav's only known son, Evstafy died in 1033.[29] According to thePrimary Chronicle, Mstislav "fell sick and died"[30] on a hunting expedition between 1034 and 1036.[31] He wasburied in the Transfiguration of the Holy Savior Cathedral which had been by that time "built to a point higher than a man on horseback could reach with his hand".[30][original research?] Because Mstislav had no surviving sons at the time of his death, his principality was united with his brother's realm.[22]
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)Mstislav of Chernigov | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by new creation (?) | Prince of Tmutarakan 988 or later–c. 1035 | Succeeded by |
| Prince of Chernigov 1024–c. 1035 | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
