The Principality of Volhynia (Ukrainian: Волинське князівство) was a western Kievan Rus' principality founded by the Rurikid prince Vsevolod in 987 centered in the region of Volhynia, straddling the borders of modern-day Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland. From 1069 to 1118, it belonged to the Izyaslavichi who primarily ruled from Turov (see Principality of Turov). After losing Turov to the Monomakhovichi in 1105, the descendants of Iziaslav Yaroslavovich for a few years continued to rule in Volhynia. From 1154 to 1199, the Principality was referred to as the Principality of Volodymyr (Latin: Lodomeria) when the Principality of Lutsk (1154–1228) was separated.
Territory
The principality held the lands of the historic region of Volhynia from where it acquired its name. The capital of the principality as well as the largest and most important city of the region was Volodymyr. Other notable cities in the principality include Kremenets, Lutsk, Busk, Dorogobuzh, Brest, Belz, and Shumsk.
History
The Principality of Volhynia along with her sister state, the Principality of Halych were formed by sons of the ruling Rurikid clan in Kiev. Iziaslav Mstislavich, the grandson of Vladimir Monomakh, moved to Volodymyr and started ruling it as his own possession, defeating a number of attempts to restore control by Kyivan princes. After Iziaslav's death in 1154, his son Mstislav defeated another attempt to bring his land under Kyiv's control.
After Mstislav's death, the principality was divided between his sons, one of whom, Roman, managed to reunite the land under his rule. Following the death of the prince of Halych Volodymyr Yaroslavovych in 1199, the Halych line of the Rurikid family had become extinct and the prince of Volhynia, Roman the Great annexed the principality, moved his seat to the city of Old Halych and formed the united Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia.
Princes
Yaroslavovychi
Volodymyrovychi
Yaroslavovychi / Izyaslavovychi
- 1069–1086 Yaropolk Izyaslavich (King of Rus since 1078)
- 1073–1078 occupation by Olehovychi (Oleg I of Chernigov, progenitor of the Olgovichi clan)
- 1086–1100 occupation by Ihorevychi (Davyd Ihorevych)
- 1099–1100 Mstislav Svyatopolchych
- 1100–1118 Yaroslav Svyatopolchych
Monomakhovychi
Monomakhovychi / Mstislavovychi (senior line)
Piast vs Romanovichi
- 1323–1325 Volodymyr Lvovych
- 1325–1340 Yuri II Boleslav
- 1323–1349 Halych boyars led by Dmytro Dedko
Gediminids