Mstislav III Glebovich

He was the son of Prince Gleb Svyatoslavich of Chernigov and Anastasia Ryurikovna, a daughter of Grand Prince Ryurik Rostislavich of Kiev.[1] His father died between 1215 and 1220.[2]

By 1225, Mstislav had already been second in seniority among the Olgovichi (the ruling dynasty of Chernigov), and therefore during the absence of his cousin, Mikhail Vsevolodovich, he commanded them.[2] On April 6, 1231, he attended a snem (a meeting of some leading princes of Rus’ organized by Grand Prince Vladimir III Rurikovich) in Kiev, but the reasons for convoking the council are not given.[2] It appears that his domain probably lay west of the Snov and Desna rivers.[2]

Although the chronicles never tell us that he ruled Chernihiv, but his seniority merited him that post.[2] Moreover, the evidence that the onus of defending the town fell on his shoulders supports this.[2]

In the autumn of 1239, the Tatar horde advanced against Chernihiv along the northern shore of the river Seym.[2] Presumably, the invaders captured Hlukhiv, Kursk, Rylsk, and Putivl, and on reaching the river Desna, they advanced towards Chernihiv.[2] When Mstislav heard that the Tatars were attacking the town, he came with his troops to confront them.[2] The nomads used catapults that hurled stones the distance of a bowshot and a half.[2] Mstislav barely escaped, but many of his men were killed.[2] After Chernihiv fell on October 18, the Tatars pillaged the towns in the surrounding countryside.[2]

Before departing from Chernihiv, the Tatars sent messengers to Kiev proposing peace, and they were pacified, we are told, with Mstislav.[2] The chronicler probably made only a passing reference to his capitulation in an effort to underplay the nature of his commitments.[2] He must have submitted to Batu Khan’s authority and agreed to campaign with him and to pay a tithe in everything.[2]

In 1241, his cousin, Mikhail Vsevolodovich, who had returned from Masovia when the Tatars invaded his lands, gave Chernihiv to his own son, Rostislav Mikhailovich.[2] Mikhail Vsevolodovich may have repudiated Mstislav because, contrary to his wishes, he had formed a pact with the enemy; or (although the chronicles fail to tell us) Mstislav may have died following his pact with the Tatars.[2] The possibility of his demise is implied by the silence of the chronicles, which never mention him again.[2]