TheOlgovichi orOlhovychi[a] were one of the four dominant princely families ofKievan Rus' in the 12th and 13th century.[b] First mentioned in theHypatian continuation of thePrimary Chronicle (PVL) under the year 1116[c] and literally meaning "the sons of Oleg", they were named afterOleg I Sviatoslavich,Prince of Chernigov (r. 1094–1097) andPrincipality of Novgorod-Seversk (r. 1097–1115).[5][6] He was the grandson ofYaroslav the Wise; ruling dynasty in the Chernigov principality, Novgorod-Seversky principality, as well as with interruptions: in the Kiev, Galicia, Volyn, Pereyaslav principalities, Novgorod lands.[7]
ThePrincipality of Chernigov (modernChernihiv in northernUkraine) was the main Olgovichipatrimony (hence the term "Olgovichi of Chernigov"[8]), with thePrincipality of Novgorod-Seversk (modernNovhorod-Siverskyi) serving as the primaryappanage. From 1054 to 1186, thePrincipality of Murom–Ryazan was subordinate to the Olgovichi of Chernigov; then it sought an independent existence between Chernigov and Suzdalia untilVsevolod the Big Nest destroyed and depopulated Ryazan in 1208.[9]
The Olgovichi frequently managed to put one of their clan members on thegrand princely throne of Kiev (modernKyiv), includingMichael of Chernigov, who in the wake of theMongol invasion was executed byBatu Khan in 1246 and later canonised as an Orthodox saint.[10] There is some uncertainty regarding his descendants, who from the late 13th century appear to have expanded Olgovichi control toBryansk,Kursk, and theUpper Oka Principalities (in the present-dayRussian Federation). From 1301 to 1324, the Olgovichi reigned in Kiev again.[11] In the 14th and 15th centuries, the Olgovichi principalities were gradually divided between theGrand Duchy of Lithuania (where the clan was incorporated into theRuthenian nobility) and thePrincipality of Moscow.[12]
The creator ofThe Tale of Igor's Campaign criticised the founder of this family,Oleg Svyatoslavich (Gorislavich), for excessive lust for power and undermining the integrity of the Rus' state. The Olgovichi cooperated with the Polovtsian khans the most among all princely clans and fought with them against the rest of the Rus' princes.[13]
Slovenian–Canadian Slavistics researcher and priest Martin Dimnik (1941–2020) has published extensive studies on the Olgovichi.[10]