Galicia-Volyn principality: the history of the Russian outskirts. Galicia-Volyn principality - a brief description of the management system, political structure, features of the economy Roman Mstislavovich united the Galician and Volyn principalities

At the end of the 12th century, a significant historical event took place: the territories of Galicia and Volyn separate principalities were united into a single Galicia-Volyn principality. As a result of such a reunification, the largest ancient Russian state of the Rurik dynasty arose. A wise ruler, Prince Roman Mstislavovich, was able to unite together two independent principalities.

First, he, taking advantage of civil strife, occupied Galich, and after the death of Vladimir Yaroslavich, he deftly connected these territories. Common cultural traditions, as well as common enemies (in the person of the Poles, the Golden Horde and the Hungarians) also contributed to the reunification of these lands. The principality existed for more than 200 years, and its wise ruler was subsequently called the "autocrat of all Rus'."

The peculiarity of the geographical location of the principality was in a favorable territorial location. The state was located on the fertile chernozems of Southwestern Rus'. The principality was adjacent to Lithuania - on the north side; with the Golden Horde - on the south side; with Kyiv, as well as the Turov-Pinsk principalities - from the eastern side; with the Kingdom of Poland - along the western borders. And the majestic Carpathians served as a natural border with Hungary.

The natural conditions in the state were magnificent: luxurious and picturesque nature, a huge number of clean reservoirs. In the south, the principality was washed by the majestic Danube, and in the east by the full-flowing rivers Styr and Pripyat.

There is no exact information about the population. Unfortunately, reliable lists have not reached us. It is only known that the princely subjects regularly conducted a census of the population in the territories under their control. Regular population growth was ensured by the resettlement of the inhabitants of the conquered lands to the territory of the principality.

The inhabitants of the Ukrainian steppes also regularly moved to the territory of the state in search of protection from the constant raids on the steppe by the Mongol-Tatars. The main part of the population were Eastern Slavs. But there were also small settlements of Poles, Yotvingians, Lithuanians, Prussians and Tatars.

Important! In large cities, merchant and craft settlements of Germans and Jews also existed separately.

State characteristics

Favorable geographical location contributed to the rapid development of the state. The characterization of the Volyn principality would be incomplete without a description of its largest cities.

According to ancient chronicles, there were about 80 of them in the principality. The largest cities:

Lviv - this ancient beautiful city, even at the present stage, is the cultural capital of Ukraine. The city was named in honor of the son of Danil Galitsky - Leo.
Vladimir-Volynsky is a large and beautiful city, the advantageous geographical location of which contributed to the fact that a large Jewish community was formed there back in the 13th-14th centuries. A tragic fate befell the city during World War II, when the Germans massacred 25,000 people in this city.
Galich is also a luxurious ancient city, which became the first capital of the Galician state.

Political system

Administration in the Volyn principality deserves special attention. The policy of the state is still of particular interest and subject of discussion among historians. Official historical science is inclined to the version that real power was concentrated in the hands of noble boyars. It was this nobility that made the most responsible decisions in the state. At general councils, they decided which of all the applicants to put on the princely throne, and from whom to take power. And even if the prince independently made a decision, the boyars still had to approve it, they could also appeal against it.

The body of power, which included noble boyars, was called the council. Bishops and large landowners also made up the council. The social system was feudal. Society was divided into five strata, between which there were striking differences.

The table will clearly show the social strata.

Name	Own
men	Votchinniki, large landowners
feudal lords	Owned the land as long as they were in the service of the prince
church nobility	At their disposal were large lands, as well as peasants. The prince gave them the land. In this category of the population were exclusively educated people
artisans	They owned pottery, jewelry, etc. workshops. They lived exclusively in big cities. The products they produced were supplied to the domestic and foreign markets.
smerdy (peasants)	The largest category of the population. They didn't own anything. They cultivated the lands of the feudal lords, and paid a constant tribute (tax in kind to the state), lived in separate communities

The main law in the state was the Russian Truth of Yaroslav the Wise.

Useful video: history of Galicia-Volyn principality

Economic features

The economy in the Galicia-Volyn lands was quite developed. It was based mainly on subsistence agriculture. Courtyards had their own self-sufficient lands, owned their own arable land, meadows, forests and hayfields, as well as places for hunting and fishing.

The most popular cereal crops were rye and oats, wheat and barley were not very popular. From livestock breeding, horse breeding was the most popular, as well as sheep breeding and pig breeding. Salt making was the most popular industry. Many forests contributed to the development of woodworking and construction.

Pottery, jewelry, blacksmithing and weaponry were also developed. Trading did not develop much, the lack of access to the sea and river ports contributed to the unpopularity of trade. Internal trade was conducted mainly in large cities.

Army

Military affairs played a key role in the existence of the state system. Constant wars and civil strife contributed to the development of the army.

The army was divided into two parts:

squads,
warriors.

The warriors made up the princely army, the squad was formed exclusively from the boyar estates. The duty of all noble boyars was unconditional participation in military campaigns. Moreover, each boyar had to go on a campaign with cavalry and subjects. Their number could reach 1000. Simple boyars had to go on a campaign with two escorts: a gunsmith and an archer.

A separate princely guard was made up of very young boyars. They were constantly near the prince.

Simple howls were a kind of people's militia. Unlike combatants, their participation in military campaigns was not so in demand.

cultural traditions

A rather distinctive culture was formed on the territory of the principality, the origins of which relied both on ancient Russian cultural traditions and those borrowed from neighboring states.

Cultural centers were large monasteries in cities. They were also the main centers of education. Cultural life was mainly concentrated in Volhynia, in Vladimir, and also in Galich. It was in these cities that libraries were concentrated, and writing was developed in them.

Orthodox churches and monasteries were famous for their exquisite architecture. On the Volyn lands, the Dnieper architectural traditions were honored. In the Galician land, mainly Romanesque architectural styles and trends were used, borrowed mainly from Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland.

Important! It was Galician architecture that was particularly diverse. Exquisite white stone was used to finish the buildings. The walls were faced with ceramic relief tiles, which depicted the plant world, geographical ornaments, and military themes were also widely used.

The 12th century was marked by a special flourishing of the region's architecture. It was at this time that the majestic Assumption Cathedral was built in the city of Galich. This mighty cathedral was only slightly inferior in size to St. Sophia of Kyiv. It was built during the reign of Yaroslav Osmomysl and symbolized the power of the principality. During the excavation of the foundation of the cathedral, a sarcophagus with the remains of the prince himself was discovered.

Of the other architectural monuments, we note the most significant:

The grandiose church of St. Panteleimon has survived to this day. It is located in the village of Krylos in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.
The city of Holm became a fairly large architectural center already in the 13th century. Unfortunately, not a single architectural structure in the Hill has survived to this day.
The majestic Assumption Cathedral in the city of Vladimir has survived to this day. The cathedral was built by order of Mstislav Izyaslavich in 1160.
A completely new type of structures, which were of a defensive nature, appeared in Volhynia in the 13th century. These were huge donjon towers, which were built of brick or stone.

Useful video: Galicia-Volyn principality

Conclusion

The Galicia-Volyn principality was a powerful and economically developed state with majestic architecture and well-established cultural traditions. Power in this principality was concentrated in the hands of the prince and noble boyars.

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The Galicia-Volyn principality is a territorial and political formation of the southwestern part of Rus' in the XII-XIV centuries. It was formed by the unification of the Galician and Volyn territories under the control of Prince Roman Mstislavovich. In 1239, it was captured and submitted to the power of the khan. In 1352 it broke up, part of the territories became the property of Poland. The other part became part of the .

The principality was located in the valleys of the Dniester, Danube and Western Bug. In the west, neighbors were Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, in the east - the Principality of Polotsk. Of the Russian lands, it bordered on Kiev and the Turov-Pinsk land.

This situation made the principality a kind of "bridge" between Russia and Europe. This led to the instability of the borders - neighbors from the west regularly tried to appropriate part of the Galicia-Volyn territories.

The lands were distinguished by favorable climatic and natural conditions. Vast areas of chernozem favored agriculture, while forests and rivers contributed to the development of hunting and fishing.

History of education

In the VI-VII centuries. Numerous Slavic tribes lived on the territory of the future principality - Ulichi, Tivertsy, Croats, etc. In the X-XI centuries. the lands alternately were the property of either Russian or Polish rulers.

Historical and geographical predecessors were the Galician and Volhynian principalities. Volyn was a territory with developed cities. Here was a major trade route to Europe. In 1123 Prince Vladimir Monomakh made this territory his property. The Galician lands became a single entity in 1141.

The formation of the united Galicia-Volyn principality happened in 1199. The initiator was Prince Roman Mstislavich from the Monomashich family.

Map of the Galicia-Volyn principality.

Stages and distinctive features of development

In the history of the development of the principality, several stages are distinguished:

Formation- from 1199 to 1205, the Galician boyars put up constant resistance to the power of the prince. Complete subjugation occurred as a result of successful military campaigns on the Polovtsian lands and the adoption by Roman Mstislavich of the grand ducal title.

Loss of unity after the death of Prince Roman - from 1205 to 1233. For almost 30 years, internecine conflicts for the right to own land continued.

Unification and opposition to the Tatar-Mongol yoke- from 1238 to 1264, Prince Daniel Romanovich again unites the principality under his rule and regains Kyiv. In 1240 the principality was attacked by the Golden Horde. In 1245, Daniel enters into negotiations with the Khan and defends his right to power. In 1253 Daniel is crowned. The Principality becomes the largest state in Europe and is recognized as a separate political unit. The internecine strife was finally stopped, the boyar opposition was suppressed.

Enmity between Galicia and Volhynia and the emergence of the prerequisites for the collapse- from 1264 to 1323.

decline- from 1323 to 1349. Internal disintegration led to the fact that in the fall of 1339 the principality became part of Poland and the Lithuanian land.

rulers

	Years of government	Brief description of the board
Roman Mstislavich		The prince actively fought against the boyars and the clergy to strengthen the central government. He became one of the strongest Russian princes, with whom many European countries reckoned.
Daniel Romanovich		During his reign, Lvov and other cities were built. During the time of the Tatar-Mongol yoke, he received a label from Batu to reign. He sought to strengthen centralized power, using the support of the townspeople and service people.
Shvarn Danilovich		He ruled with his brother Leo. In 1267 he became the prince of Lithuania
Lev Danilovich		He ruled with his younger brother. Claimed to the Lithuanian and Polish thrones.
Yuri Lvovich		By decree of the Khan, he went on campaigns in Lithuania, Poland and Hungary.
Andrey and Lev Yurievich		The brothers ruled jointly, but the thrones were in different cities. They made an alliance with the Teutonic Order. Fought with the Golden Horde.
Boleslav (Yuri) Mazovetsky		Called to rule from Poland. He began to oppress Orthodox Christians, for which he was poisoned.

Scheme: Rulers.

Political features

The supreme authorities in the Galicia-Volyn land were the prince, the Boyar Council and the Veche.

Boyar Council- the highest council, consisting of representatives of the feudal nobility.

Veche- a meeting of citizens in Ancient Rus' to resolve socially significant issues.

prince had the right to issue laws and various charters, govern the state and administer the highest court. He was in charge of the troops, the collection of taxes, the minting of money. The supreme ruler also decided foreign policy issues.

However, the decrees and letters issued by the prince were often not accepted by the boyars. Princely vassals received the right to court in their possessions. In the boyar estates, the highest judicial power was in the hands of the owners themselves. The feudal nobility sought to limit the central power. This caused a confrontation within the earth.

The composition of the Boyar Council included:

representatives of noble families;
Bishop of Galicia - the highest spiritual person of the principality;
governors and governors - officials appointed by decree of the prince.

The prince had no right to convene the Council without the consent of the boyars themselves. In the XIV century. The council became an official body that actually controlled the lands.

Veche in the Galicia-Volyn principality did not have significant political influence. Most often it was collected by the prince.

Economy

The development of the economy was facilitated by:

Lots of fertile land.
Salt mining, which brought a lot of money to the treasury.
Forests and rivers that contributed to the development of crafts.
Growth of cities and development of crafts.
International trade routes that passed through these lands.

culture

In the XII-XIV centuries. in the principality reached their greatest prosperity:

chronicle writing- had a lively narrative character.

Architecture- it combined the influence of European and Kyiv. The architects decorated the buildings with bas-reliefs, gilding, colored glass.

Main events of history

Metropolis - in Christianity, the district, which was under the authority of the metropolitan (the spiritual rank of the Orthodox).

Historical role

The value of the principality in the history of Rus':

After the fall of Kyiv, it became the economic and political center of Western Rus'.
It continued the diplomatic traditions of Kyiv and played an important role in world politics for a long time.
It paved the way for European culture.

The principality was a kind of outpost between the Catholic West and Byzantium.

Literature:

N. V. Sychev. Book of dynasties. M., 2008.
A. V. Maiorov. Galicia-Volyn Rus. Essays on socio-political relations in the pre-Mongolian period. Prince, boyars and city community. SPb., 2001.
D.N. Alexandrov. Galicia-Volyn principality // Southern, southwestern and central Rus' and the formation of the Lithuanian state. M., 1994.

Preventive war - suicide for fear of death
Otto von Bismarck

The Galicia-Volyn principality was located in the southwestern part of Rus'. With the beginning of feudal fragmentation, the principality separated from the Kyiv authorities and really claimed the leading role in Rus'. This principality was distinguished by the presence of fertile soils, forests, trade routes and a specific management system.

princes

Princes of Galicia-Volyn principality:

Yaroslav Osmomysl (1153-1187). Ruled in Galicia.
Roman Mstislavich. From 1170 he ruled in Volhynia, and in 1199 he subjugated Galich, forming a single principality. Ruled until 1205.
Daniel Romanovich. 1205-1219 - rule under the guardianship of the mother. Next is self-management.

In times of fragmentation, the boyars enjoyed great influence. suffice it to say that both Roman Mstislavich and Daniil Romanovich waged the main struggle not with neighboring principalities and kingdoms, but with their own boyars. The results were not the best. In 1205, after the death of Roman, his young children were expelled from the principality. Leapfrog began with the invitation of the rulers. It came to the point that for some time the boyar Volodyslav Kormilichich became the prince of the Galicia-Volyn principality. It was a unique case of a local interruption of the Rurik dynasty in a separate principality.

In 1254, Daniel proclaimed himself king, and the principality became a kingdom. After the death of the prince-king in 1264, the principality broke up into a number of small regions that existed until 1352, when Galicia passed to Poland, Volhynia to Lithuania.

Development

The Galicia-Volyn principality, the development of which was carried out in the 12th-13th centuries, can be reduced to the following main dates:

1199 - unification into a single principality. Before that, there were 2 centers - Volyn and Galich.
1214 - Treaty of Seles between Hungary and Poland. The Hungarians planned to take Eastern Galicia for themselves, and the Poles Western.
1234 - Mikhail Vsevolodovich Chernigov occupied Galich.
1236 - Daniil Romanovich captures Galich.
1240 - he also captures Kyiv.
1264 - the principality was divided into many smaller ones.
1352 - Poland captured Galicia, and Lithuania captured Volhynia.

The favorable geographical position of the principality led to constant attempts by neighbors to seize this territory. It is not only about the fight against other specific principalities, but also the confrontation with Lithuania, Hungary and Poland. All these countries have repeatedly equipped military campaigns against the principality.

Geographic location and land

The Galicia-Volyn principality was located in the southwestern part of Rus' between the Dniester and the Prut, as well as with access to the Carpathians. the main characteristic of the geographical position of the principality is the presence of a mild climate and fertile lands. There were chernozem lands, extensive forests and deposits of rock salt, thanks to which the principality managed to grow rich. The chronicles indicate that salt was traded with Byzantium, Poland, the Czech Republic and other countries.

Neighbors of the Galicia-Volyn principality:

Kingdom of Hungary
Polish kingdom
Lithuanian principality
Polotsk principality
Turov-Pinsk Principality
Kiev principality
Polovtsian steppes

To the south were undeveloped lands, views of which were not only the Galician-Volyn princes, but also the Polovtsy with the Hungarians.

Large cities: Galich, Vladimir-Volynsky, Berestye, Lutsk, Lvov, Dorogobuzh, Terebovl.

Map

Map of the Galicia-Volyn principality with a geographical position within the Specific Rus.

Economic development

Features of the economic development of the Galicia-Volyn principality should be sought in the geographical position. Fertile lands had an impact on the wealth of the region, but much more important was the presence of salt mining, the trade of which brought a lot of money to the treasury. Another important economic feature of the region is that international trade routes passed through the principality.

culture

In the Galicia-Volyn principality, chronicle writing flourished. The peak of this process fell on the period of the reign of Daniel Romanovich. This prince in the annals is called an ideal ruler, as well as a magnificent warrior: daring, fearless and wise. If we consider the annals of these lands, they are more like a colorful story. If in other chronicles there is an enumeration of facts and events, then in this case the situation is different - the whole narrative goes in the form of a story.

The architecture of Galich and Volhynia is unique. European culture left an imprint on it, as well as the proximity of Kyiv with its traditions. As a result, an amazing color was achieved, and the cities began to amaze with their beauty and grace. Architects in construction used colorful glasses that let light through, decoration of buildings inside and out, relief images, gilding and much more. These were rich cities, which was reflected in the culture.

Peculiarities

The political features of the Galicia-Volyn principality relate to the management system. schematically, it can be depicted as a horizontal straight line.

Power was distributed almost equally between the prince, the veche and the boyars. Therefore, the positions of the boyars were so strong, and therefore there was a struggle for power between rich people and the prince. after all, in other large principalities, triangles of control were traced, where someone was at the top and received a dominant role. This was not the case in this kingdom.

General features of the development of the principality during the period of feudal fragmentation (11-13 centuries):

Struggle with Kiev for supremacy in Rus'
Active development of rock salt mining.
A large number of arable land and forests.
Active foreign trade and urban growth at this expense.

Galicia-Volyn principality



	Galich (1199-1340) Vladimir (1340-1392)
	Old Russian
	Orthodoxy
Form of government:	Monarchy
Dynasty:	Rurikovichi

	Creation of the Principality
	Reunion
	Coronation of Daniel
	Creation of the metropolis
	Loss of Galicia
	Loss of Volyn, cessation of existence

Galicia-Volyn principality(lat. Regnum Rusiae - kingdom of Rus'; 1199-1392) - the southwestern Old Russian principality of the Rurik dynasty, created as a result of the unification of the Volyn and Galician principalities by Roman

Mstislavich. After in 1254 Daniil Galitsky accepted the title of "King of Rus'" from Pope Innocent IV in Dorogochin, he and his descendants used the royal title.

The Galicia-Volyn principality was one of the largest principalities of the period of feudal fragmentation of Rus'. It included the Galician, Przemysl, Zvenigorod, Terebovlyan, Volyn, Lutsk, Belz, Polissya and Kholm lands, as well as the territories of modern Podlasie, Podolia, Transcarpathia and Moldova.

The Principality pursued an active foreign policy in Eastern and Central Europe. Its main neighbors and competitors were the Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of Hungary and the Cumans, and from the middle of the 13th century, also the Golden Horde and the Principality of Lithuania. To protect against them, the Galicia-Volyn principality repeatedly signed agreements with Catholic Rome, the Holy Roman Empire and the Teutonic Order.

The Galicia-Volyn principality fell into decay under the influence of a number of factors. Among them were the aggravated relations with the Golden Horde, in vassal relations to which the principality continued to be, during the period of its unification and subsequent strengthening at the beginning of the XIV century. After the simultaneous death of Leo and Andrei Yurievich (1323), the lands of the principality began to be seized by its neighbors - the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The dependence of the rulers on the boyar aristocracy increased, the Romanovich dynasty was cut short. The principality ceased to exist after the complete division of its territories following the war for the Galician-Volyn inheritance (1392).

Territory and demographics

Borders

The Galicia-Volyn principality was created at the end of the XII century, by combining the Galician and Volyn principalities. Its lands stretched in the basins of the San, Upper Dniester and Western Bug rivers. The principality bordered in the east with the Russian Turov-Pinsk and Kiev principalities, in the south - with Berlady, and eventually with the Golden Horde, in the southwest - with the Kingdom of Hungary, in the west - with the Kingdom of Poland, and in the north - with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Teutonic Order and Polotsk Principality.

The Carpathian Mountains in the northwest served as the natural border of the Galicia-Volyn principality, separating it from Hungary. In the 20s of the XIV century, this border was pushed to the south in connection with the connection of a certain part of Transcarpathia by the Galician princes. The western border with Poland passed along the rivers Jaselka, Wislok, San, and also 25-30 km west of the Vepsh river. Despite the temporary captures of Nadsanya by the Poles and the annexation of Lublin by Rus, this part of the border was quite stable. The northern border of the principality ran along the Narew and Yaselda rivers, in the north of the Berestey land, but often changed due to wars with the Lithuanians. The eastern border with the Turov-Pinsk and Kyiv principalities ran along the rivers Pripyat, Styr and along the right bank of the Goryn River. The southern border of the Galicia-Volyn principality began in the upper reaches of the Southern Bug and reached the upper reaches of the Prut and Siret. It is likely that from the 12th to the 13th centuries Bessarabia and the Lower Danube were dependent on the Galician princes.

Administrative division

Since 1199, the border between the Galician and Volyn principalities passed between the Galician cities of Lyubachev, Naked Mountains, Plesensk, and the Volyn Belz, Busk, Kremenets, Zbrazh and Tikhoml. The territory of both principalities was divided into separate lands or principalities.

Volyn was a single Vladimir principality with its capital in Vladimir. Over time, the principality was divided into smaller specific principalities, among them were the principality of Lutsk with a center in Lutsk, the principality of Dorogobuzh with a center in Dorogobuzh, the principality of Peresopnitsa with a center in Peresopnitsa, the principality of Belz with a center in Belz, the principality of Cherven with a center in Cherven, Kholmsky a principality with a center in Kholm and a Beresteisky principality with a center in the city of Brest.

Galicia consisted of four main principalities, which were either liquidated under strong princely power, or reappeared due to its weakening. These principalities were the principality of Galicia with its center in Galich, the principality of Lvov with its center in Lvov, the principality of Zvenigorod with its center in Zvenigorod, the principality of Przemysl with its center in Przemysl, and the principality of Terebovlya with its center in Terebovlya. Later, the principalities were united under the rule of Galicia. An integral part of these lands were also the territories above the middle Dniester, which were then called Ponysia, and now - Podolia.

The division into smaller principalities persisted until the 13th century, later there are references only to the Galician and Volyn principalities as constituents of the Galicia-Volyn principality.

Population

Sources by which it is possible to accurately calculate the population of the Galicia-Volyn principality have not been preserved. In the Galicia-Volyn Chronicle, there are references to the fact that the princes conducted censuses and compiled lists of villages and cities under their control, but these documents have not reached us or are incomplete. It is known that the Galician-Volyn princes often resettled inhabitants from the conquered lands to their territories, which gave rise to population growth. It is also known that the inhabitants of the Ukrainian steppes fled to the principality from the Mongol-Tatars, where they settled.

Based on historical documents and topographic names, it can be established that at least a third of the settlements of Volhynia and Galicia arose no later than the appearance of the Galicia-Volyn principality, and their inhabitants were mainly Eastern Slavs. In addition to them, there were a few settlements founded by Poles, Prussians, Yatvingians, Lithuanians, as well as Tatars and representatives of other nomadic peoples. In the cities there were craft-merchant colonies inhabited by Germans, Armenians, Sourozhians, and Jews.

Political history

Western lands of Rus'

In the VI-VII centuries, powerful tribal unions existed on the territory of modern Galicia and Volhynia. At the beginning of the 7th century, Dulebs are mentioned, and at the end of the same century, Buzhans, Chervyans, Ulichs and White Croats, whose lands included 200-300 settlements each. Fortified "castles" were the centers of tribal political associations. It is known that the Croats and Dulebs acted as "talkers", that is, allies of the Rusyns in Oleg's campaign against Byzantium in 907.

Historians admit that in the early 60s of the 10th century, the lands of Galicia and Volyn were annexed to Kievan Rus by Svyatoslav Igorevich, but after his death in 972 they were annexed by the neighboring Kingdom of Poland. In 981, his son, Vladimir Svyatoslavich, again occupied these lands, including Przemysl and Cherven. In 992, he conquered the White Croats and finally subjugated Subcarpathia to Rus'. In 1018, the Polish king Boleslav the Brave took advantage of the civil strife of the Russian princes and captured the cities of Cherven. They remained under his rule for 12 years, until Yaroslav the Wise returned them in the campaigns of 1030-1031. Further, peace was concluded with Poland, which secured Cherven, Belz and Przemysl for Russia.

Principalities of Galicia and Volhynia

By the middle of the 11th century, the lands of Galicia and Volhynia were finally entrenched in Kievan Rus. Among them, the main place was occupied by Volyn - a populous land with developed cities and a trade route to the west. The capital of all Western Russian lands was the city of Vladimir (Volynsky), where the princely throne was located. The Kievan monarchs held these strategically important territories for a long time, saving them from fragmentation into specific principalities.

In 1084, the Rostislavichs, princes Rurik Rostislavich, Volodar Rostislavich and Vasilko Rostislavich came to power in the lands of Galicia. As a result of wars with the Volyn and Kyiv princes at the end of the 11th century, they achieved separate principalities for themselves. In 1141, these principalities were united by Vladimir Volodarevich, the son of Volodar Rostislavich, into a single Galician principality with its capital in Galich. It maintained contact with the princes of Kyiv and Suzdal, as well as the Polovtsy to confront the Polish, Volyn and Hungarian rulers. Under Yaroslav Osmomysl, son of Vladimir Volodarevich, the Principality of Galicia gained control over the lands of modern Moldavia and the Danube region. After the death of Osmomysl in 1187, the boyars did not accept the illegitimate son Oleg declared by him as heir, and therefore “a great conspiracy occurred in the Galician land”, as a result of which it was occupied by the Hungarian troops of Bela III. Only with the help of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and Poland, Galich was returned to the last prince from the Rostislavic branch, Vladimir Yaroslavich.

Unlike the imminent transformation of Galicia into a separate principality, Volyn, strategically important for Kyiv, remained dependent on it until the 50s of the XII century. Its isolation from Kyiv was started by the Kiev prince Izyaslav Mstislavich, the grandson of Vladimir Monomakh, during the Kyiv rule of Yuri Dolgoruky. The son of Izyaslav Mstislav managed to leave Volyn to his offspring, and since that time the Volyn land developed as a separate principality.

The formation of a single principality

The unification of Galicia and Volhynia was accomplished by the Volyn prince Roman Mstislavich, the son of Mstislav Izyaslavich. Taking advantage of the unrest in Galicia, he first occupied it in 1188, but could not keep the Hungarians under pressure, who also invaded Galician land at the request of local boyars. For the second time, Roman annexed Galicia to Volhynia in 1199, after the death of the last Galician prince Vladimir Yaroslavich of the Rostislavich family. He severely suppressed the local boyar opposition, which resisted his attempts to centralize government, and this laid the foundation for the creation of a single Galicia-Volyn principality.

At the same time, Roman intervened in the struggle for Kyiv, which he received in 1201, and took the title of Grand Duke of Kyiv. In 1202 and 1204, he made several successful campaigns against the Polovtsians, thereby gaining popularity among the common population. In the lists of annals and letters, he bears the title of "Grand Duke", "Autocrat of All Rus'" and is also called "Tsar in the Russian Land". He died at the Battle of Zavikhost in 1205 during his Polish campaign.

Civil strife

Due to the death of Roman during the early childhood of his sons Daniil and Vasilko, a vacuum of power arose in the Galicia-Volyn principality. Galicia and Volhynia were seized by a series of ongoing civil strife and foreign interventions.

In the first year after Roman's death, his widow and children managed to keep Galich with the help of the Hungarian garrison, but in 1206 the boyar group of the Kormilichichs, who returned to Galich from exile, contributed to the invitation to the Galicia-Volyn principality of the sons of the Novgorod-Seversky prince sung in the Tale of Igor's Campaign Igor Svyatoslavich. Vladimir Igorevich and Roman Igorevich reigned in Galicia in total from 1206 to 1211.

After the death of Roman, Volhynia broke up into small specific principalities, and its western lands were captured by Polish troops. Svyatoslav Igorevich failed to establish himself in Volyn, and she returned under the control of the local dynasty. The legal heirs of the Galicia-Volyn principality, the young Daniel and Vasilko Romanovich, retained only minor territories of the principality.

Having deployed repressions against the Galician boyar opposition, the Igorevichs gave Poland and Hungary a pretext for intervention. In 1211, the Romanovichs and their mother returned to Galich, the Igorevichs were defeated, captured and hanged. However, conflict soon arose between widow Romanova and the boyars, and the Romanovichs again had to leave the capital. Princely power in Galich was usurped by the boyar Vladislav Kormilichich, who was expelled in 1214 by the Hungarians and Poles. Andras II, King of Hungary, and Leszek the White, Prince of Krakow, divided Galicia among themselves. Andrew II planted his son Koloman in Galicia. Soon the Hungarians quarreled with the Poles and took possession of the whole of Galicia, as a result of which Leszek called for help the Novgorod prince Mstislav Udatny, who had recently participated in the triumphal capture of Vyshgorod and Kiev from the Olgovichi and, according to one version, was the grandson of Yaroslav Osmomysl. In 1215, with the Polish help, the Romanoviches regained Vladimir, and in 1219 they conquered the lands along the Western Bug from Poland.

For several years, Mstislav Udatny fought for Galich against the Hungarians with varying success, until in 1221 he finally established himself in the Galician reign, making peace with the king and marrying his daughter to Prince Andrei. To strengthen his power, Mstislav entered into an alliance with the young princes, married his daughter to Daniel. However, soon after the Battle of Kalka (1223), a conflict arose between Leshek and Daniel, on the one hand, and Mstislav and the specific Belz prince Alexander Vsevolodovich, on the other. Causing discontent of the boyars and not having the strength to stay in power, Mstislav, during his lifetime, transferred the Galician reign to Prince Andrei. In 1227, Daniel and his brother defeated the specific Volyn princes and by 1230 united Volyn in their hands. Thus, Daniil and Vasilko regained half of the lands that belonged to their father. For the next eight years they waged war for Galicia, first against the Hungarians, then against Mikhail of Chernigov. In 1238, Daniel finally occupied Galich and recreated the Galicia-Volyn principality.

The reign of Daniel Romanovich

Having united the fragmented possessions of Father Roman, the brothers Daniil and Vasilko peacefully distributed power. The first sat in Galich, and the second in Vladimir. The leadership in this duumvirate belonged to Daniel, since he was the eldest son of Roman Mstislavich.

Before the Mongol invasion of Rus', the Galicia-Volyn principality managed to expand its borders. In 1238, Konrad of Mazovia presented the Russian city of Dorogochin to the Dobzhin Order of the Crusaders, and Daniil Romanovich occupied it and the northwestern lands of Beresteyshchyna. In the spring of 1238, Mindovg, an ally of Daniel, made a raid on Mazovia. In 1239, Daniel annexed the Turov-Pinsk principality to his lands and the following winter took possession of Kiev.

With the arrival of the Mongols, the positions of the Galician-Volyn princes were shaken. In 1240 the Mongols took Kyiv, and in 1241 they invaded Galicia and Volyn, where they sacked and burned many cities, including Galich and Vladimir. Taking advantage of the departure of the princes to Hungary and Poland, the boyar elite revolted. The weakness of the principality took advantage of its neighbors, who tried to capture Galich. In response, the Galicians captured Polish Lublin in 1244, and in 1245 defeated the Hungarians, Poles and rebel boyars in the battle of Yaroslav. The boyar opposition was finally destroyed, and Daniel was able to centralize the administration of the principality.

The Golden Horde was dissatisfied with the strengthening of the positions of the Galicia-Volyn lands, which delivered an ultimatum to the principality demanding that Galicia be transferred to it. Not having the strength to resist the Mongols, Daniel was forced to recognize the suzerainty of the Golden Horde Khan in 1245, but retained the rights to the Galicia-Volyn principality. Having become dependent on the Golden Horde, the prince directed his foreign policy towards the creation of an anti-Horde coalition of states. To this end, he entered into an alliance with Poland, Hungary, Mazovia and the Teutonic Order, and also captured the Yatvingian lands and Black Rus' in 1250-1253, thereby eliminating the threat of Lithuanian attacks on Volhynia.

In 1254, Daniel took the title of King of Rus' in Dorogochin from Pope Innocent IV. The Pope promised to organize a crusade against the Mongols, and indeed called for it the Christians of Central Europe, and then the Baltics.

But Daniel did not go for the catholization of the subject lands, therefore he had to not only fight against the Mongols himself, but instead of expelling the Horde Baskaks from Kiev, repel the attack on Lutsk by the Lithuanians, whom the pope had already allowed in 1255 fight the Russian land. The rupture of allied relations occurred after the independent capture of Vozvyagl by the Galician-Volyn troops in Kyiv land before the approach of the Lithuanians. The first war (1254-1257) against the troops of Kuremsa was victorious, but in 1258 the Mongol troops were led by Burundai, who in the next two years, together with Vasilko Romanovich, conducted military campaigns against Lithuania and Poland, and also forced the fortifications of several Volyn cities to be demolished.

In 1264, Daniel died without having liberated the Galicia-Volyn principality from the Horde yoke.

Galicia-Volyn principality at the end of the XIII-XIV centuries

In the second half of the 13th century, after the death of Daniil Romanovich, seniority in the dynasty passed to Vasilko, but he continued to reign in Vladimir. Leo, the successor of his father, got Galich, Przemysl and Belz, Mstislav - Lutsk, Shvarn, married to the daughter of Mindovg - Kholm with Dorogochin.

In the mid-1260s, a contender for the Lithuanian throne, Voyshelk, the son of Mindovg, turned to Vasilko for help. Vasilko and Schwarn helped Voyshelka establish himself in Lithuania. In 1267 Voyshelk retired to a monastery and handed over his principality to Shvarn, who was his son-in-law. The reign of Shvarn on the Lithuanian table was shaky, because it was based on the order of Voyshelka. And when the Galician prince Lev in 1268 during a feast killed Voyshelka, Shvarn's position in the Lithuanian land became completely unattractive. Soon, Schwarn himself died. Troyden sat on the Lithuanian reign, and Lev Danilovich took the parish of Shvarna in Rus'.

In 1269, the Grand Duke of Vladimir Vasilko Romanovich died. Vasilko's vast possessions were inherited by his son, Vladimir. In the 70s, Vladimir and Lev fought with the Yotvingians; at this time, the Galician-Volyn princes also begin border conflicts with the "Poles". Together with the Tatars, the squads of Leo and Vladimir in 1277 went to the Lithuanian land, in 1285 - "to the Ugry", in 1286 they devastated the Krakow and Sandomierz lands. In 1288-89, Lev Danilovich actively supported the contender for the Krakow table - Prince Boleslav Zemovitovich of Plotsk, his nephew - in his struggle with Henry of Wratslav. In this campaign, Leo managed to capture the Lublin land. In 1288 Volhynia prince Vladimir Vasilkovich died. Vladimir had no children, and he bequeathed all his lands to Mstislav Danilovich. Shortly before his death, Leo made a raid on Poland, from where he returned with a lot of booty and full. The news about the double defeat of Leo by Gediminas, and about the conquest of Volhynia by the latter, taken by the compiler of the Gustynskaya chronicle from the annals of Bykhovets, are recognized as unreliable.

The new Galician prince Yuri I Lvovich, the son of Lev Danilovich, in 1303 obtained from the Patriarch of Constantinople the recognition of a separate Little Russian metropolis. In 1305, wishing to emphasize the power of the Galicia-Volyn state and inheriting his grandfather Daniel of Galicia, he took the title of "King of Little Rus'". In foreign policy, Yuri I maintained good relations and made alliances with the Teutonic Order to contain the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Horde, and Mazovia against Poland. After his death in 1308, the Principality of Galicia-Volhynia passed to his sons Andrei Yuryevich and Lev Yuryevich, who began the fight against the Golden Horde, traditionally relying on the Teutonic knights and Mazovian princes. It is believed that the princes died in one of the battles with the Mongols or were poisoned by them (1323). Also, some historians claim that they died defending Podlasie from Gediminas. They were succeeded by Vladimir Lvovich, who became the last representative of the Romanovich dynasty.

After the end of the rule of the Rurik dynasty, Yuriy II Boleslav, the son of Maria Yuryevna, the daughter of Yuri Lvovich, and the Mazovian prince Troyden, became the monarch of Galicia-Volhynia. He settled relations with the Golden Horde khans, recognizing his dependence on them and in 1337 made a joint campaign against Poland with the Mongols. Maintaining peace with Lithuania and the Teutonic Order, Yuri II had bad relations with Hungary and Poland, which were preparing a joint offensive against the Galicia-Volyn principality. In domestic policy, he contributed to the development of cities, granting them the Magdeburg Law, intensified international trade and wished to limit the power of the boyar elite. To implement his plans, Yuri II attracted foreign specialists and helped the Uniate processes between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. These actions of the prince in the end caused dissatisfaction with the boyars, who poisoned him in 1340.

The death of Yuri II put an end to the independence of the Galicia-Volyn principality. A period of struggle for these lands began, which ended with the division of the principality between its neighbors. In Volyn, Lubart-Dmitry Gediminovich, the son of the Lithuanian prince Gedimin, was recognized as a prince, and in Galicia, the noble boyar Dmitry Detko was the governor of the Volyn prince. In 1349, the Polish king Casimir III the Great organized a large campaign against the Galicia-Volyn principality, seized the Galician lands and started a war with the Lithuanians for Volhynia. The war for the Galician-Volyn inheritance between Poland and Lithuania ended in 1392 with the loss of Volyn prince Fyodor Lubartovich of lands in Volhynia. Galicia with the Belz principality and Kholmshchyna became part of the Kingdom of Poland, and Volhynia was ceded to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Galicia-Volyn principality finally ceased to exist.

Socio-economic history

Society

The society of the Galicia-Volyn principality consisted of three layers, belonging to which was determined both by pedigree and by type of occupation. The social elite was formed by princes, boyars, and the clergy. They controlled the lands of the state and its population.

The prince was considered a sacred person, "the ruler given by God", the owner of all the land and cities of the principality, and the head of the army. He had the right to give subordinates allotments for service, as well as to deprive them of lands and privileges for insubordination. In public affairs, the prince relied on the boyars, the local aristocracy. They were divided into "old" and "young", who were also called "the best", "great" or "deliberate". The great senior boyars made up the administrative elite and the “senior squad” of the prince. They owned "Batkovshchinas" or "Fatherhoods", ancient family lands, and new land allotments and cities granted by the prince. Their sons, "lads", or junior boyars, made up the "junior squad" of the prince and served at his court as close "yard servants". The administration of the clergy was represented by six dioceses in Vladimir (Volynsky), Przemysl, Galich and Ugrovsk (later in Kholm), Lutsk and Turovsk. These bishoprics owned vast lands near these cities. In addition to them, there were a number of monasteries that controlled large territories and the population living on them. After the creation in 1303 of the Galician Metropolis, dependent on the Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Galician Metropolitan became the head of the church in the Galician-Volyn lands.

Separately from the princes and boyars, there was a group of city administrators called "bad men" who controlled the life of the city, following the orders of the princes, boyars or clergy to whom this city belonged. From them the urban patriciate was gradually formed. Next to them in the city lived "ordinary people", the so-called "townspeople" or "mestichi". All of them were obliged to pay taxes in favor of princes and boyars.

The most numerous group of the population in the principality were the so-called "simple" villagers - "smerds". Most of them were free, lived in communities and paid taxes in kind to the authorities. Sometimes, due to excessive exactions, smerds left their homes and moved to the virtually uncontrolled lands of Podolia and the Danube region.

Economy

The economy of the Galicia-Volyn principality was mostly natural. It was based on agriculture, which was based on self-sufficient lands - courtyards. These economic units had their own arable lands, hayfields, meadows, forests, places for fishing and hunting. The main agricultural crops were mainly oats and rye, to a lesser extent wheat and barley. In addition, animal husbandry was developed, especially horse breeding, as well as sheep and pig breeding. The important components of the economy were crafts - beekeeping, hunting and fishing.

Among the crafts were blacksmithing, leather, pottery, weapons and jewelry. Since the principality was located in the forest and forest-steppe zones, which were densely covered with forest, woodworking and construction reached a special development. Salt making was one of the leading industries. The Galicia-Volyn principality, together with the Crimea, supplied salt for all of Kievan Rus, as well as for Western Europe. The favorable location of the principality - on the black earth - especially near the rivers Sana, Dniester, Vistula, etc., made it possible for the active development of agriculture. Therefore, Galich was also one of the leaders in the export of bread.

Trade in the Galicia-Volyn lands was not developed properly. Most of the manufactured products went to domestic use. The lack of access to the sea and large rivers prevented the conduct of extensive international trade, and, of course, the replenishment of the treasury. The main trade routes were overland. In the east, they connected Galich and Vladimir with the principalities of Kiev and Polotsk and the Golden Horde, in the south and west with Byzantium, Bulgaria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and the Holy Roman Empire, and in the north with Lithuania and the Teutonic Order. The Galicia-Volyn principality exported mainly salt, furs, wax and weapons to these countries. Imported goods were Kiev art and jewelry, Lithuanian furs, Western European sheep wool, cloth, weapons, glass, marble, gold and silver, as well as Byzantine and Oriental wines, silks and spices.

Trade took place in the cities of the Galicia-Volyn principality, of which there were more than eighty by the end of the 13th century. The largest of them were Galich, Kholm, Lvov, Vladimir (Volynsky), Zvenigorod, Dorogochin, Terebovlya, Belz, Przemysl, Lutsk and Berestye. The princes encouraged international trade by reducing taxes on merchants along trade routes and city squares.

The state treasury was replenished at the expense of tribute, taxes, extortions from the population, wars and confiscation of possessions from objectionable boyars. Russian hryvnias, Czech pennies and Hungarian dinars circulated on the territory of the principality.

Control

The head and highest representative of power in the principality was the prince. He united in his hands the legislative, executive, judicial branches of power, and also had a monopoly on the right to conduct diplomatic relations. Trying to become an absolute "autocrat", the prince was constantly in conflict with the boyar entourage, which sought to maintain its independence and turn the monarch into its own political instrument. The strengthening of princely power was also hampered by the duumvirates of princes, the fragmentation of principalities and the intervention of neighboring states. Although the monarch had the right to make decisions on his own, he sometimes convened boyar "thoughts" to resolve the most important issues and problems. These meetings became permanent from the 14th century, finally blocking the "autocracy" of the prince, which became one of the reasons for the decline of the Galicia-Volyn principality.

The princely central administration consisted of the boyars appointed by the prince and was quite differentiated; had a number of special titles, such as "court", "printer", "scribe", "steward" and others. But these were rather titles than positions, since the persons holding them often performed orders from the prince, not related to their official duties. That is, in the Galicia-Volyn principality there was no effective bureaucracy, and specialization in management had not yet been consistently carried out, which was a characteristic feature for all European states of the Middle Ages.

Until the end of the 13th century, the regional administration was concentrated in the hands of the specific princes, and from the beginning of the 14th century, in connection with the transformation of the specific principalities of the Galicia-Volyn state into volosts, in the hands of princely volost governors. The prince chose most of the governors from the boyars, and sometimes from the clergy. In addition to volosts, princely governors were sent to cities and large urban areas.

The structure of cities in the XII - XIII centuries was the same as in other Russian lands - with the advantage of the boyar-patrician elite, with a division into taxation units - hundreds and streets, with a city council - veche. During this period, the cities belonged directly to the princes or boyars. In the XIV century, with the penetration of Magdeburg law into the Galicia-Volyn principality, a number of cities, including Vladimir (Volynsky) and Sanok, adopted a new semi-self-governing system.

The judiciary was combined with the administrative. The supreme court was conducted by the prince, and below - by the tivuns. The provisions of Russkaya Pravda remained the basic law. The city court was often based on German law.

Army

The army of the Galicia-Volyn principality was organized following the example of the traditional Russian. It consisted of two main parts - "teams" and "wars".

The squad served as the basis of the prince's army and was formed from the divisions of the boyars. The "great" boyars were obliged to go on a campaign personally with a certain number of cavalry and their subjects, the number of which could reach a thousand people. Ordinary boyars were required to arrive at the positions only accompanied by two soldiers - a heavily armed gunsmith and an archer-archer. The young boyars "youths" made up a kind of guard of the prince, constantly staying with him. In turn, the howls were a people's militia and were formed from "ordinary people" - the townspeople and villagers; they were used only in emergencies. However, due to the constant internal struggle, the prince could not always count on the help of the boyars.

Epochal for the Galicia-Volyn state were the military reforms of Daniil Romanovich, who was the first in the space of the former Kievan Rus to create a princely army independent of the boyar squad, recruited from ordinary people and landless boyars. It was divided into heavily armed gunsmiths and lightly armed archers. The former performed shock functions, both cavalry and infantry, and the latter - the role of the instigator of the battle and cover units. This army did not have unified weapons, but used a modernized Western European arsenal - lightweight iron armor, spears, sulits, horns, swords, lightweight Rozhan bows, slings, crossbows, as well as medieval artillery with "martial and hail vessels". This army was personally commanded by the prince or the voivode loyal to him or the thousandth.

In the 13th century, fortification construction underwent changes. The old Russian fortifications of earth ramparts and wooden walls began to be replaced by castles made of stone and brick. The first newest fortresses were built in Kholm, Kamenets, Berestye, Chertorysk.

culture

On the territory of the Galicia-Volyn principality, an original culture was formed, which not only inherited the traditions of Kievan Rus, but also absorbed many innovations from neighboring countries. Most of the modern information about this culture has come down to us in the form of written evidence and archaeological artifacts.

The main cultural centers of the principality were large cities and Orthodox monasteries, which at the same time played the role of the main educational centers of the country. Volyn played a leading role in the cultural life of the country. The city of Vladimir itself, the main city of the Volyn principality, was an ancient stronghold of the Rurikovich. The city became famous thanks to Prince Vasily, whom the chronicler recalled as "a great scribe and philosopher, which was not on the whole earth and will not be after him." This prince developed the cities of Berestya and Kamenets, created his own library, built many churches throughout Volyn, to which he gave icons and books. Another significant cultural center was Galich, famous for its Metropolitan Cathedral and the Church of St. Panteleimon. In Galicia, the Galician-Volyn Chronicle was also written and the Galician Gospel was created. Poloninsky, Bogorodichny and Spassky were ranked among the largest and most famous monasteries of the principality.

Little is known about the architecture of the principality. Written sources describe mainly churches, without mentioning the secular houses of princes or boyars. There are also few data from archaeological excavations, and they are not enough for an accurate reconstruction of the then structures. The remains of the temples of the principality and records in the annals make it possible to assert that the traditions of the architecture of Kievan Rus remained strong in these lands, but new trends of Western European architectural styles were felt.

The fine arts of the principality were strongly influenced by the Byzantine. Galicia-Volyn icons were especially valued in Western Europe, many of them ended up in Polish churches after the conquest of the principality. The art of icon painting of the Galician-Volyn lands had common features with the Moscow icon painting school of the 14th-15th centuries. Although Orthodox traditions did not encourage the development of sculpture in connection with the fight against idolatry, the pages of the Galicia-Volyn Chronicle mention sculptural masterpieces in Galicia, Przemysl and other cities, which testifies to the Catholic influence on the masters of the principality. Fashion in decorative arts, especially in the processing of weapons and military devices, was dictated by Asian countries, in particular the Golden Horde.

The development of culture in the Galicia-Volyn principality contributed to the consolidation of the historical traditions of Kievan Rus; for many centuries they were preserved in architecture, fine arts, literature, chronicles and historical works. But at the same time, the principality fell under the influence of Western Europe, where the Galician-Volyn princes and the nobility sought protection from aggression from the east.

Russian princely families originating from the Galicia-Volyn principality

The following princes are considered descendants of the Galician-Volyn princes:

Drutsk

Drutsky-Sokolinsky
Drutsky-Sokolinsky-Gurko-Romeiko
Drutsky-Lyubezhsetsky

Babichevs
Putyatins

Sources and historiography

Sources

The main sources for studying the history of the Galicia-Volyn Principality are local and foreign chronicles, descriptions of travels, various letters, data from archaeological excavations.

The initial period of the history of Galicia and Volyn during the period of the first Rostislavichs is described by the Tale of Bygone Years, and the Kiev Chronicle narrates about the events of 1117-1199. The years 1205-1292 are covered by the Galicia-Volyn chronicle, which is conditionally divided into two parts - the reign of Daniil Romanovich and the reign of Vladimir Vasilyevich.

The main sources describing the history of Galicia and Volhynia include the Polish chronicles of Gall Anonymus, the chronicles of Wincenty Kadlubek and the chronicle of Jan Dlugosz, the Czech Chronicle of Kozma of Prague, the German chronicle of Thietmar of Marzeburg and the Hungarian chronicles of Janos Turoczi and the Chronicon Pictum. The last years of the existence of the Galicia-Volyn Principality are narrated by the Polish chronicles of Janko from Czarnkov, Trask, the Lesser Poland Chronicle, as well as the Czech chronicles of Frantisek from Prague and the Hungarian Dubgitskaya chronicle.

Valuable are the letters of Vladimir Vasilyevich of 1287 and Mstislav Daniilovich of 1289, inscribed in the Galicia-Volyn chronicle, and the original letters of Andrei and Lev Yuryevich of 1316-1325 and Yuri II of 1325-1339.

Historiography

The first studies on the history of Galicia and Volhynia appeared at the end of the 18th century. These were the works of the Austrian historians L. A. Gebgard, R. A. Goppe and J. H. Engel. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Polish historian F. Syarchinsky published works on the history of the principalities of Przemysl and Belz, Z. M. Garasevich compiled materials on the history of the church in Galicia.

The first historian who wrote the scientific "History of the ancient Galician-Russian principality" in three parts (1852-1855) was D. Zubritsky. His case was followed by A. Petrushevich, who in 1854 in the article “Review of the most important political and church events in the Galician principality from the half of the 12th to the end of the 13th century” gave a general assessment of the history of Galicia. In 1863, professor of Lviv University I. Sharanevich for the first time on the basis of historical, archaeological and toponymic sources published in Lviv "History of Galicia-Volyn Rus from ancient times to the summer of 1453". His work was continued by historians S. Smirnov, A. Belevsky and A. Levitsky.

In the first half of the 19th century, the history of Volhynia and Kholmshchyna was studied by S. Russov, M. Maksimovich, V. Komashko, L. Perlstein and M. Verbitsky, Yu. T. Stetsky, A. Krushinsky and others. Their works were review-popular in nature. In 1885, a specialized work by A. V. Longinov “Cherven Cities, a historical essay in connection with the ethnography and topography of Chervona Rus”, dedicated to the history of the Kholm region, was published in Warsaw. The ancient history of Volyn was covered in 1887 in the work of O. Andreyashev and in 1895 in the monograph of P. Ivanov.

Most of the works of the 19th century covered mainly the political topics of the Galicia-Volyn principality, without affecting the socio-economic. Also, the history of Galicia and Volyn was considered through the prism of the political life of Austria-Hungary and the Russian Empire, legalizing the rights and claims of these states to the aforementioned lands.

After the annexation of Western Ukraine to the USSR in 1939, the topic of the Galicia-Volyn principality was raised by Soviet historiography. Researchers of the 20th century paid attention mainly to the socio-economic situation in the principality. New approaches to the coverage of the history of the principality were presented in the works of B. D. Grekov, V. I. Picheta, V. T. Pashuto. In 1984, the first fundamental monograph on the history of the Galicia-Volyn principality was published under the authorship of I. Kripyakevich.

The Galicia-Volyn principality appeared as a result of the weakening of the power of Kievan Rus during the period of feudal fragmentation.

The emergence of the state took place in 1199 thanks to the efforts of Prince Roman Mstislavovich. It ceased to exist in 1349 with the arrival of the Poles.

Princes of the Galicia-Volyn principality

You can learn about the rulers of the state from the data presented in the table.

Dates	princes	Accomplishments, political activity
1153 — 1187	Yaroslav Vladimirovich was called Osmomysl, having eight thoughts, for his intelligence and love for the sciences and philosophy.	Under the prince, a “golden” age began on the Galician land: the population grew, cities and cultural monuments were built.
From 1170 to 1205 he ruled the Volyn principality.	Roman Mstislavich was called the warrior prince, he was the great-grandson of Vladimir Monomakh.	In 1199 he conquered Galich, in 1202 - Kyiv, where he received the title of "great". He directed all his forces to the unification of the Galician and Volyn lands into a single state.
He was enthroned in 1213.	The "reign" of the boyar, the leader of the urban community of Galich Volodislav Kormilchich was short.	The princely troops were defeated by the combined Polish-Hungarian forces. The boyar prince died in captivity.
Became Vladimir-Volyn prince in 1213. Ruled until 1264.	The son of Roman Mstislavich, Daniel of Galicia, was supported by the Poles in the first years of his reign.	He created a relatively strong and lasting unification of the principality, did a lot to restore peace and order in the region. He was distinguished by a flexible policy, consisting of bold military actions, and subtle diplomacy. He managed to maintain the independence of the principality for a long time during the invasion of the Golden Horde, created a coalition against the Tatar-Mongol yoke, but could not rid his principality of the Horde. Successfully repelled the Polish-Hungarian invasions. He was the only Russian prince to receive the royal crown from the Pope in 1254.
1305-1308	Yuri I Lvovich	Became the "King of Little Rus'" in 1305, he managed to maintain good relations with his neighbors, including the Teutonic Order. Died in 1308.
They died in battle in 1323.	Sons of Yuri I Andrei and Leo. Their heir is Vladimir Lvovich, the last of the Rostislavovich dynasty.	Actively fought against the Horde invaders, collaborated with the knights of the Teutonic Order and the princes of Mazovia.
He was poisoned by the boyars in 1340.	Yuri II Boleslav	He managed to establish relations with the Golden Horde rulers, he tried to limit the power of the boyars. He did a lot for the construction of cities.

Characteristics of the Principality

The Galicia-Volyn lands became a united state under the eminent prince Yaroslav Osmomysl.

Yaroslav Vladimirovich Osmomysl (c. 1130-1187) - Prince of Galicia (1153-1187). Osmomysl means "he who has eight minds," that is, very clever.

The territory of the state attracted neighboring countries and constantly had to repulse the Poles, Hungarians and steppe nomads.

The Principality became a Ukrainian political center with a developed economy, continuing Russian cultural traditions.

Geographical position

The location of the state created benefits for its economic development. The principality was located in the south-west of Rus', occupied by fertile black soil.

If you look at the map, then the south of the territory of the principality was washed by the waters of the Danube, the east by the waters of the full-flowing rivers Styr and Pripyat.

Political structure

Absolute autocracy - this form of government attracted princes. They controlled the legislative, executive and judicial powers.

The rulers had the right to engage in diplomatic activities. But without the boyar entourage, without the decision of the "thought", the prince could not make decisions on the most important issues.

The state system of the principality could not be called autocratic. The ruler "given by God" had to reckon with the boyars and the local aristocracy. The main of them were in the administrative elite and the senior princely squad. The administration of the clergy consisted of six dioceses.

Population

It consisted of several social strata.

They included:

Husbands, estates and feudal lords, they were landowners for the duration of the princely service.
church nobility, managing land and peasants.
Artisans who own workshops and manufacture various goods.
Smerdov or peasants, the largest category of the population, without property, paying tribute and living in communities.

In the principality, there were mainly settlements of Eastern Slavs, although there were small numbers of Yatvags, presses, Lithuanians and Poles.

Census lists have not been preserved, so there is no information on the population.

Features of the economy

The economy in the principality was directed to:

for the cultivation of agricultural land, where oats and rye were popular cereals;
for breeding horses, sheep and pigs;
for hunting and fishing;
for salt making - a popular trade;
for construction and woodworking;
for the development of blacksmithing, jewelry, weapons and pottery.

Trade developed poorly due to the lack of sea and river ports. The climate on the territory of the state contributed to the flourishing of agriculture.

Foreign policy

Throughout the history of the principality, from its formation to the end of its existence, hostilities continued with neighboring states.

At different times, the rulers raided or defended themselves, they signed peace agreements at first with Poland, Hungary and with the Polovtsians.

It is worth noting: the decline of the principality contributed to the aggravation of relations with neighbors and the inability to fight back.

Economy

It was based on agricultural activities, on the development of rich salt deposits and on the development of handicrafts.

Its peculiarity was subsistence farming, the largest supply of salt and the location of farmland on black earth. The most famous product bought by neighboring states was bread.

The princely treasury received taxes, requisitions, tribute and property confiscated from the feudal lords.

Architectural Features

The 13th century is known for the appearance of stone and brick fortresses. On the lands of the principality, such castles appeared in Kamenets, Chertoryysk and Kholm. Their feature was the preservation of the Dnieper architectural traditions, Romanesque architectural styles.

The structures were finished with exquisite white stone, faced with ceramic tiles, the relief of which was decorated with geographical and floral patterns.

Few cathedrals built in the principality have survived; according to their description, these structures were no less majestic than St. Sophia of Kiev, which delights with its beauty in our time.

Defensive structures also appeared - towers, which were called donjons.

Big cities

In total, there were about 80 cities in the principality.

The largest include:

Lviv, named after Prince Lev Danilovich;
Vladimir Volynsky, which is the center of the principality due to its favorable location;
Galich with its luxurious architecture.

culture

She contributed to the emergence of new creative directions that enriched the entire Eastern European culture. Its peculiarity was the combination of ancient Russian traditions and traditions of neighboring European states.

Galician Gospel

In painting, iconography occupied a large place, as a reflection of the influence of the church on the cultural life of the state.

If we briefly describe the history of the Galicia-Volyn principality, it should be noted that it was a powerful and economically developed state with magnificent architecture and cultural traditions.

The structure of power, namely its concentration in princely and boyar hands, contributed to the weakening of the country's power under the influence of external political forces.