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| Roman the Great | |
|---|---|
 Seal used by Roman during his rule in Novgorod | |
| Prince of Novgorod | |
| Reign | 1168–1170 |
| Predecessor | Svyatoslav IV Rostislavich |
| Successor | Rurik Rostislavich |
| Prince of Volhynia | |
| Reign | 1170–1189 1189–1205 |
| Predecessor | Mstislav III Izyaslavich Vsevolod II Mstislavich |
| Successor | Vsevolod II Mstislavich Daniel Romanovich |
| Prince of Galicia | |
| Reign | 1189 1198/1199–1205 |
| Predecessor | (?)Oleg Yaroslavich Vladimir II Yaroslavich |
| Successor | Andrew II Daniel Romanovich |
| Born | c. 4 April 1152 |
| Died | 19 June 1205 (52-53) NearZawichost,Kingdom of Poland |
| Spouse | Predslava Rurikovna Anna-Euphrosyne |
| Issue | Fedora Romanovna Olena Romanovna Daniel Romanovich Vasylko Romanovich |
| House | Rurik |
| Father | Mstislav II of Kiev |
| Mother | Agnes of Poland |
| Religion | Eastern Orthodox Christianity |
Roman Mstislavich[1][a] (c. 4 April 1152 – 19 June 1205), also known asRoman the Great,[3] wasPrince of Novgorod (1168–1170),Volhynia (1170–1189; 1189–1205), andGalicia (1189; 1198/99–1205).[1][4][5] He founded theRomanovichi branch ofRurikids,[4] which would ruleGalicia–Volhynia until 1340.[6]
By seizing the throne of Galicia, he dominated the western regions ofKievan Rus'.[7] In the early 13th century, Byzantinechroniclers applied theimperial title ofautocrate (αύτοκράτωρ) to him, but there is no evidence that he assumed it officially.[7]
He waged two successful campaigns against theCumans, from which he returned with many rescued captives.[4] The effect of Roman's victory was, however, undermined by new divisions among the princes of Rus'.[7]
Roman was killed during theBattle of Zawichost, where his forces were crushed the Polish forces led byLeszek the White, Duke of Sandomierz, and his brotherKonrad I of Masovia.[8]
Roman was the son of Mstislav Iziaslavich,Grand Prince of Kiev, and Agnes of Poland. His maternal grandfather was Polish princeBoleslaw the Wrymouth. Invited by the locals to rule Novgorod in 1168, the young prince was opposed byAndrey Bogolyubsky, the powerful rulerVladimir and Suzdal. In 1170 Roman defeated Bogolyubsky's son Mstislav in a battle, however after the death of his father in the same year he was expelled from Novgorod and moved to Volhynia, where he inherited the city ofVolodymyr.[9] In 1188 Roman married Predslava, the daughter of the future Kyivan princeRurik Rostislavich.[10] In the same year, after the death of Galician princeYaroslav Osmomysl, Roman capturedHalych, but was soon expelled by Hungarian kingBela III. During his campaign in Halych, Roman's seat in Volodymyr was taken by his brotherVsevolod Mstislavich of Volhynia, and after his return the prince allied with his father-in-law Rurik to return his Volhynian holdings.[11]
After Rurik Rostislavich inherited the throne of Kyiv in 1194, he granted Roman control over several towns inKyiv Principality, includingTorchesk. However, under the pressure of Vladimir princeVsevolod the Big Nest Rurik eventually revoked his decision, which led Roman into the alliance withYaroslav II Vsevolodovich,Prince of Chernigov, as well as his cousins — dukesLeszek the White andKonrad of Masovia.[12] As a result, Roman was entangled into the conflict between Polish princes against their enemyMieszko the Old, but was wounded in a battle and returned to Rus'.[13] After a short period of reconciliation, during which Rurik granted him the town ofPolonne, in 1196 Roman continued the fight against his father-in-law, allying with theOlgovichi clan. In the same year the prince also raided raid againstJotvingians, who were attacking the borders of his principality.[14] During this time he divorced his wife and married a woman namedAnna, whose exact ancestry is unclear, but it is theorized that she could be the daughter ofByzantine EmperorIsaac II Angelos.
In 1199, after the death of PrinceVolodymyr Yaroslavych of Halych, Roman captured the Galician throne for the second time, creating thePrincipality of Galicia-Volhynia. During his rule over Halych he suppressed localboyar clans and enjoyed support of the townspeople. In 1201–1202 and 1203–1204 Roman led two successful campaigns against the Cumans, who were allied with Rurik during that time, and captured Kyiv, installing his brother-in-lawRostislav Rurikovich as its prince.[15] Roman also established ties with the Byzantine Empire: according to Polish chroniclerJan Długosz, after theFaill of Constantinople to theCrusaders in 1204, he gave refuge to deposed emperorConstantine Laskaris in Galicia.[16]
In 1205 Roman suddenly broke the alliance with Leszek and Konrad and invaded Poland. According to theGalician-Volhynian Chronicle, this decision was advised to him by the influential Galician boyar Volodyslav Kormylchych, who would later proclaim himself Prince of Galicia. Another possibility is that Roman was involved in internal conflicts between Polish and, possibly, even German rulers. In theBattle of Zawichost, Roman's force was suddenly attacked by Polish knights, and the prince was killed. His temporary burial place was located inSandomierz.[17] After Roman's death his young sons Daniel andVasylko were expelled from Halych by the boyars and fled to Volodymyr together with their mother.[18] The Galician throne was transferred toVladimir III Igorevich, Prince ofNovgorod-Seversky.[b]
Galician-Volhynian chronists had a favourable view of Roman Mstyslavych, praising him as a wise ruler and a brave fighter againstinfidels.[19] However, Polish historian Jan Długosz saw Roman as a tyrant who was installed with Leszek's help and terrorized his subjects.[20] According to some sources, in 1204 Roman was offered a royal crown by PopeInnocent III, but either refused to bow to Rome, or died before the coronation could take place. His untimely death led to theWar of the Galician Succession (1205-1245).
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)Roman the Great Born: c. 1152 Died: 14 October 1205 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Svyatoslav IV Rostislavich | Prince of Novgorod 1168–1170 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prince of Vladimir-in-Volhynia 1170–1189 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prince of Galicia 1189 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prince of Vladimir-in-Volhynia 1189–1205 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prince of Galicia 1198/99–1205 | Succeeded by |
