Prince of Novgorod

The Prince of Novgorod (Russian: Князь новгородский, knyaz novgorodskii) was the chief executive of Republic of Novgorod. The office was originally an appointed one until the late eleventh or early twelfth century, then became something of an elective one until the fourteenth century, after which the Prince of Vladimir (who was almost always the Prince of Moscow) was almost invariably the Prince of Novgorod as well.

The office began sometime in the ninth century when, according to tradition, the Viking (Varangian) chieftain Rurik and his brothers were invited to rule over the Eastern Slavs,[1] but real reliable information on the office dates only to the late tenth century when Vladimir the Great was prince of Novgorod. The office or title technically continued up until the abdication of Nicholas II in 1917 – among one of his titles (although his list of titles was rarely given in complete form) was Prince of Novgorod the Great.

After the chief Rurikid prince moved to Kiev in the late ninth century, he usually sent either his son or a posadnik (mayor), to rule on his behalf. Thus Sviatoslav I sent his son Vladimir the Great to rule in Novgorod, and after Vladimir became Grand Prince of Kiev, he sent his son, Yaroslav the Wise to reign in Novgorod.

Republican period

From the early twelfth century to 1478, the prince's power in the Republic of Novgorod was more nominal. Imperial and Soviet-era scholars often argued that the office was ineffectual after 1136, when Prince Vsevolod Mstislavich was dismissed by the Novgorodians, and that Novgorod could invite and dismiss its princes at will.[2] In this way, the prince of Novgorod was no longer "ruler" of Novgorod but became an elective or appointed executive official of the city-state.[3]

That being said, the traditional view of the prince being invited in or dismissed at will is an oversimplification of a long and complex history of the office. In fact, from the late tenth century to the fall of Novgorod in 1478, the princes of Novgorod were dismissed and invited only about half the time, and the vast majority of these cases occurred between 1095 and 1293, and not consistently so during that period. That is, the office was elective for perhaps two centuries and even then it was not always elective.[4] Even during this period, the nadir of princely power in the city, more powerful princes could assert their power independently over the city, as did Mstislav the Bold in the early 13th century, Alexander Nevsky in the 1240s and 50s, his brother Iaroslav in the 1260s and 70s, and others.[5]

According to a remark in the chronicles, Novgorod had the right, after 1196, to pick their prince of their own free will,[6] but again, the evidence indicates that even after that, princes were chosen and dismissed only about half the time, and Novgorod often chose the most powerful prince in Rus' as their prince.[7] That usually meant that the prince in Kiev, Vladimir or Moscow (who retained the title Grand Prince of Vladimir from about the 1320s onward, although there were several interruptions), either took the title himself or appointed his son or other relative to be prince of Novgorod. At times other princes, from Tver, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and elsewhere, also vied for the Novgorodian throne. Thus Novgorod did not really choose its prince, but considering the political climate, they often very prudently went with the most senior or most powerful prince in the land if he did not impose himself (or his candidate) upon them.

What was different about Novgorod, then, was not so much that Novgorod could freely choose its princes - it really couldn't. Rather, what was unique was that no princely dynasty managed to establish itself within the city and take permanent control over the city. Rather, while other Rus' cities had established dynasties, the more powerful princes vied for control of Novgorod the Great, a most-desirable city to control given the vast wealth (from trade in furs) that flowed into the city in the medieval period.[8]

In the absence of firmer princely control the local elites, the boyars, took control of the city and the offices of posadnik and tysyatsky became elective.[9] The veche (public assembly) played a not insignificant role in public life, although the precise makeup of the veche and its powers is uncertain and still contested among historians. The posadnik, tysiatsky, and even the local bishop or archbishop (after 1165) were elected at the veche, and it is said the veche invited and dismissed the prince as well.

List of princes

[10]

  • Burivoi (legendary Slovene ruler)
  • Gostomysl (legendary Slovene ruler)

Part of Kievan Rus'
RulerBornReignDeathConsortNotes
Rurik I?862-879879Unknown
at least one son		Also Grand Prince of Rus'
Oleg the Seer?879-912912UnknownVarangian kniaz of Holmgård (Novgorod) and Kønugård (Kiev). His relationship with the family is unknown. He was probably a regent, in name of Igor, son of Rurik. Also Grand Prince of Rus'
Igor I the Old
Igor Rurikovich		c.878
Son of Rurik I		912-945945
Iskorosten
aged 66–67		 901 or 902
at least one son		Son of Rurik. Also Grand Prince of Rus'
Saint Olga of Kievc.890
Pskov		945-96211 July 969
Kiev
aged 78–79		Regent on behalf of her minor son, she was baptized by Emperor Constantine VII but failed to bring Christianity to Kiev.
Sviatoslav I the Brave
Sviatoslav Igorevich		c.942
possibly Kiev
Son of Igor I and Olga		962-969March 972Predslava
c.954
two children

Malusha/Malfrida[11][12]
c.958
at least one son		Also Grand Prince of Rus'
Vladimir I the Great
Vladimir Sviatoslavich		c.958
Budyatychi
Son of Sviatoslav I and Malusha/Malfrida		969-977

979-988		15 July 1015
Berestove, Kiev
aged 57–58		Olava/Allogia
c.977
at least one son

A Greek nun
(widow of his brother)
c.980
at least one son

Rogneda of Polotsk
c.978
(possibly in bigamy)
eight children

Adela (of Bulgaria?)
at least two children (maximum four)

Malfrida (of Bohemia?)
Before 1000
two children

Anna Porphyrogenita of Byzantium
988
Cherson
three children

Regelindis (?) of Saxony (granddaughter of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor)
After 1011
one or two daughters

Unknown
two children		His early rule is characterized by a staunch pagan reaction but in 988 he was baptized into Orthodoxy and successfully converted Kievan Rus' to Christianity.
Yaropolk I
Yaropolk Sviatoslavich		c.950
Son of Sviatoslav I and Predslava		977-979980
Fort of Roden, near Kaniv
aged 29-30		A greek nun
at least one son		Also Grand Prince of Rus'
Viacheslav I
Viacheslav Vladimirovich		977
Son of Vladimir I and Olava/Allogia		988-1010c.1010
Novgorod
aged 32-33		Anna
before 1052
at least two children
Yaroslav I the Wise
Yaroslav Vladimirovich		c.978
Son of Vladimir I and Rogneda of Polotsk		1010-103420 February 1054
Vyshhorod
aged 75–76		Ingigerda of Sweden
1019
Novgorod
eight or nine children		During his reign Kievan Rus' reached the pinnacle of its power.
Vladimir II
Vladimir Yaroslavich		1020
Son of Yaroslav I and Ingigerda of Sweden		1034-10524 October 1052
Novgorod
aged 31-32		Anna
before 1052
at least two children
Iziaslav I
Iziaslav Yaroslavich		c.1024
Son of Yaroslav I and Ingigerda of Sweden		1052-10543 October 1078
Nizhyn
aged 53–54		Gertrude of Poland
1043
three children		First King of Rus', Pope Gregory VII sent him a crown from Rome in 1075.
Mstislav I
Mstislav Iziaslavich		before 1054
Son of Iziaslav I and Gertrude of Poland		1054-10671069
aged at least 14-15		Unknown
one child
Gleb I
Gleb Sviatoslavich		1052
Son of Sviatoslav II of Kiev and Cecilia		1067-107830 May 1078
Novgorod
aged 25-26		Unmarried
Sviatopolk I
Sviatopolk Iziaslavich		8 November 1050
Son of Iziaslav I and Gertrude of Poland		1078-108826 April 1113
Vyshhorod
aged 62		(Barbara?) of Bohemia[13]
c.1085
three children

Olenna of the Kipchaks
c.1094
four children		Also Grand Prince of Rus'
Mstislav II the Great
Mstislav Vladimirovich		1 June 1076
Turov
Son of Vladimir II Monomakh and Gytha of Wessex		1088-1094

1095-1117		14 April 1132
Kiev
aged 55		Christina of Sweden
1095
ten children

Liubava Dmitrievna of Novgorod
1122
two children		After his reign Kievan Rus' fell into recession starting a rapid decline.
David I
David Sviatoslavich		1050
Son of Sviatoslav II of Kiev and Cecilia		1094-10951123
Chernigov
aged 72-73		Teodosia
five children		Son of Sviatoslav II of Kiev.

Feudal Period

(Note: as the seat of this principality was elective (non-hereditary, the princes will be presented with their patronymic)

RulerBornReignDeathConsortNotes
Vsevolod Mstislavich11031117-113211 February 1138Anna
before 1125
four children		Son of Mstislav the Great. 1st time.
Sviatopolk MstislavichAfter 1096113220 February 1154Euphemia of Olomouc[14]
1143 or 1144
no children		Also Prince of Polotsk and Pskov. Son of Mstislav the Great. 1st time.
Vsevolod Mstislavich11031132-113611 February 1138Anna
before 1125
four children		2nd time.
Sviatoslav Olgovich1106/11071136-11381164Unknown
six children		Son of Oleg I of Chernigov. 1st time.
Sviatopolk MstislavichAfter 1096113820 February 1154Euphemia of Olomouc[15]
1143 or 1144
no children		2nd time.
Rostislav Yurevich?1138-11406 April 1151Unknown
before 1151
three children		Son of Yuri Dolgoruki. 1st time.
Sviatoslav Olgovich1106/11071140-11411164Unknown
six children		2nd time.
Sviatoslav Vsevolodovich1123114125 July 1194Maria of Polotsk
1143
eight children		Son of Vsevolod II of Kiev.
Rostislav Yurevich?1141-11426 April 1151Unknown
before 1151
three children		2nd time.
Sviatopolk MstislavichAfter 10961142-114820 February 1154Euphemia of Olomouc[16]
1143 or 1144
no children		3rd time.
Yaroslav Iziaslavich11321148-11541180'Unknown
1149
four children		Son of Iziaslav II of Kiev.
Rostislav Mstislavich1110115414 March 1167Unknown
eight children		Son of Mstislav the Great.
David Rostislavich11401154-115523 April 1197Unknown
before 1197
seven children		Son of the predecessor.
Mstislav Yurevich?1155-1158after 1161UnknownSon of Yuri Dolgoruki.
Sviatoslav Rostislavich?1158-11601170UnknownSon of Rostislav Mstislavich. 1st time.
Mstislav Rostislavich the Eyelessbefore 11511160-116120 April 1178Unknown
two children

Unknown
no children		Son of Rostislav Yurevich. 1st time
Sviatoslav Rostislavich?1161-11681170Unknown2nd time.
Roman Mstislavich the Great11521168-117019 June 1205Predslava of Kiev
1170 or 1180
two children

Anna Angelina of Byzantium
c.1197
two children		Son of Mstislav II of Kiev. Also King of Galicia-Volhynia.
Rurik Rostislavichbefore 11571170-11711215Unknown
1163

Anna of Turov[17]
before 1176
six children		Son of Rostislav Mstislavich.
Yuri Andreevich I Bogolyubskyc.11601171-1175c.1194Tamar I of Georgia
1185
(annulled 1187)
no children		Son of Prince Andrey Bogolyubsky.
Sviatoslav Mstislavich?1175after 1176UnknownSOn of Mstislav Rostislavich.
Mstislav Rostislavich the Eyelessbefore 11511175-117620 April 1178Unknown
two children

Unknown
no children		2nd time.
Yaroslav Mstislavich the Red?1176-11771199UnmarriedSon of Mstislav Yurevich.
Mstislav Rostislavich the Eyelessbefore 11511177-117820 April 1178Unknown
two children

Unknown
no children		3rd time.
Yaropolk Rostislavich?11781182 or after 1196UnknownSon of Rostislav Mstislavich.
Roman Rostislavichbefore 11491178-117914 June 1180Maria of Novgorod
9 January 1149
three children		Son of Rostislav Mstislavich.
Mstislav Rostislavich the Brave11431179-118013 July 1180Two unknown wives
three children		Son of Rostislav Mstislavich.
Vladimir Sviatoslavichafter 11431180-11811200Maria of Vladimir-Suzdal
1178
five children		Son of Sviatoslav Vsevolodovich.
Yaroslav Vladimirovich?1182-1184after 1176Unknown Alanian wife
three children		Son of Vladimir III of Kiev. 1st time.
Mstislav Davidovich?1184-11871189UnknownSon of David Rostislavich.
Yaroslav Vladimirovich?1187-1196after 1176Unknown Alanian wife
three children		2nd time.
Yaropolk Yaroslavichafter 11741197between 1212 and 1223Vasilissa (of Chernigov?)
no children		Son of Yaroslav II of Chernigov.
Yaroslav Vladimirovich?1197-1199after 1176Unknown Alanian wife
three children		3rd time.
Sviatoslav Vsevolodovich27 March 11961200-12053 February 1252Eudokia of Murom
one child		Son of Grand Duke Vsevolod the Big Nest. Also Grand Duke of Vladimir. 1st time.
Konstantin Vsevolodovich18 May 11851205-12072 February 1218Agafia of Kiev
three children		Son of Grand Duke Vsevolod the Big Nest. Also Grand Duke of Vladimir.
Sviatoslav Vsevolodovich27 March 11961207-12103 February 1252Eudokia of Murom
one child		2nd time.
Mstislav Mstislavich the Bold11761210-12151228Maria of Cumania
nine children		Son of Mstislav Rostislavich. 1st time.
Yaroslav Vsevolodovich8 February 11911215-121630 September 1246Unknown
1205
no children

Rostislava of Novgorod
1214
(annulled 1216)
no children

Theodosia of Ryazan
1218
twelve children		Son of Grand Duke Vsevolod the Big Nest. Also Grand Duke of Vladimir. 1st time.
Mstislav Mstislavich the Bold11761216-12171228Maria of Cumania
nine children		2nd time.
Sviatoslav Mstislavich?1217-12181239UnknownSon of Mstislav III of Kiev.
Vsevolod Mstislavich?1218-12211239UnknownSon of Mstislav III of Kiev.
Vsevolod Yurevich1212 or 121312217 February 1238Marina of Kiev
1230
no children		Son of Yuri II of Vladimir. 1st time.
Yaroslav Vsevolodovich8 February 11911221-122330 September 1246Unknown
1205
no children

Rostislava of Novgorod
1214
(annulled 1216)
no children

Theodosia of Ryazan
1218
twelve children		2nd time.
Vsevolod Yurevich1212 or 12131223-12247 February 1238Marina of Kiev
1230
no children		2nd time.
Saint Michael Vsevolodovich11851224-122620 September 1246Helena of Galicia-Volhynia
1210 or 1211[18]
seven children		Son of Vsevolod IV of Kiev. 1st time.
Yaroslav Vsevolodovich8 February 11911226-122830 September 1246Unknown
1205
no children

Rostislava of Novgorod
1214
(annulled 1216)
no children

Theodosia of Ryazan
1218
twelve children		3rd time.
Saint Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky13 May 12211228-122914 November 1263Praskovia-Alexandra of Polotsk
1239
five children

Vassilissa
before 1263
no children		Son of the predecessor. 1st time.
Saint Michael Vsevolodovich1185122920 September 1246Helena of Galicia-Volhynia
1210 or 1211[18]
seven children		2nd time.
Rostislav Mikhailovichafter 12101229-12301262Anna of Hungary
1243
five children		Son of the predecessor.
Yaroslav Vsevolodovich8 February 11911230-123630 September 1246Unknown
1205
no children

Rostislava of Novgorod
1214
(annulled 1216)
no children

Theodosia of Ryazan
1218
twelve children		4th time.
Saint Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky13 May 12211236-124014 November 1263Praskovia-Alexandra of Polotsk
1239
five children

Vassilissa
before 1263
no children		2nd time.
Andrey Yaroslavich12201240-12411264Justina of Galicia
three children		Son of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich.
Saint Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky13 May 12211241-125214 November 1263Praskovia-Alexandra of Polotsk
1239
five children

Vassilissa
before 1263
no children		3rd time.
Vasily Alexandrovich?1252-12551271UnmarriedSon of Alexander Yaroslavich.
Yaroslav Yaroslavich1230125516 September 1272Natalia
before 1252
two children

Saint Xenia of Tarusa
1265
four children		Son of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. 1st time.
Vasily Alexandrovich?1255-12571271Unmarried2nd time.
Saint Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky13 May 12211257-125914 November 1263Praskovia-Alexandra of Polotsk
1239
five children

Vassilissa
before 1263
no children		4th time.
Dmitry Alexandrovich12501259-12631294Unknown
four children		Son of Alexander Yaroslavich. 1st time.
Yaroslav Yaroslavich12301264-127216 September 1272Natalia
before 1252
two children

Saint Xenia of Tarusa
1265
four children		2nd time.
Dmitry Alexandrovich12501272-12731294Unknown
four children		2nd time.
Vasily Yaroslavich1236 or 12411273-12761276Unknown3rd time.
Dmitry Alexandrovich12501276-12811294Unknown
four children		3rd time.
Andrey Alexandrovich12551281-128527 July 1304Vasilissa of Rostov
1294
three children		Son of Alexander Yaroslavich. 1st time.
Dmitry Alexandrovich12501285-12921294Unknown
four children		4th time.
Andrey Alexandrovich12551292-130427 July 1304Vasilissa of Rostov
1294
three children		2nd time.
Saint Michael Yaroslavich12551304-131427 July 1304Saint Anna of Rostov
1294
five children		Son of Yaroslav Yaroslavich. 1st time.
Afanasi Danilovich?1314-13151322Anna
no children		Son of Daniel of Moscow. 1st time.
Saint Michael Yaroslavich12551315-131627 July 1304Saint Anna of Rostov
1294
five children		2nd time.
Afanasi Danilovich?1316-13221322Anna
no children		2nd time.
Yuri Danilovich12811322-132521 November 1325Unknown
1297
one child

Konchaka of Mengu-Timur (baptised Agafia)
1317
no children		Son of Daniel of Moscow.
Alexander Mikhailovich7 October 13011325-132729 October 1339Anastasia of Galicia
1320
eight children		Son of Michael Yaroslavich.

Part of Moscow

Gediminids

House of Rurik

References
  1. Dmitry Likhachev, ed. and trans., Povest Vremennikh Let (Moscow and Augsburg: Im Werden Verlag, 2003), 7.
  2. Boris Grekov, “Revoliutsiia v Novgorode v XII veke,” Uchenye zapiski Instituta Istorii Rossiiskoi assotsiatsii nauchno-issledovatel’skikh institutov obshchestvennykh nauk (RANION) vol. 4 (1929): 13-21; V. L. (Valentin Lavrent’evich) Yanin, “Problemy sotsial'noi organizatsii novgorodskoi respubliki,” Istoriia SSSR, 1 (1970), 44; Valentin Yanin, Novgoroskie Posadniki (Moscow: Yazyki Slavianskoi kul'tury, 2003), 64-135.
  3. Michael C. Paul, "Was the Prince of Novgorod a 'Third-rate bureaucrat' after 1136?" Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas 56, No. 1 (Spring 2008): 72-113.
  4. Paul, "Was the Prince of Novgorod a 'Third-rate bureaucrat' after 1136?" 94-97.
  5. Michael C. Paul, “The Iaroslavichi and the Novgorodian Veche 1230-1270: A Case Study on Princely Relations with the Veche,” Russian History/ Histoire Russe 31, No. 1-2 (Spring-Summer, 2004): 39-59.
  6. Arseny Nasonov, ed., Novgorodskaia Pervaia Letopis Starshego i mladshego izvodov (Moscow and Leningrad, ANSSSR, 1950), 43, 236; Novgorodskaia chetvertaia letopis, vol. 4 of Polnoe Sobranie Russkikh Letopisei (Moscow: Iazyki russkoi kul'tury, 2000), 177; George Vernadsky, Kievan Russia (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1948), 197.
  7. N. L. (Natalia L’vovna) Podvigina, Ocherki sotsial’no-ekonomicheskoi i politicheskoi istorii Novgoroda Velikogo v XII-XIII vv. (Moscow: Vysshaia shkola, 1976), 114; Paul, "Was the Prince of Novgorod a 'Third-rate bureaucrat' after 1136?" 82-94.
  8. On the fur trade, see Janet Martin, Treasure of the Land of Darkness: The Fur Trade and Its Significance for Medieval Russia (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985); Paul, "Was the Prince of Novgorod a 'Third-Rate Bureaucrat' after 1136?"; see also the relevant sections (re: Novgorod) in Janet Martin, Medieval Russia: 980-1584, (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1995).
  9. See Yanin, Novgoroskie Posadniki.
  10. See also the list in Paul, "Was the Prince of Novgorod a 'Third-rate bureaucrat' after 1136?" 109-113.
  11. Vladimir Plougin: Russian Intelligence Services: The Early Years, 9th-11th Centuries, Algora Publ., 2000
  12. History of Ukraine-Rus': From prehistory to the eleventh century, Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press, 1997
  13. According to A. Nazarenko. It was thought not long ago that the first wife of Sviatopolk was Barbara Komnene, a supposed daughter of Alexios I Komnenos. However, the lack of tradition of such a name in the Byzantine Empire led to doubt. Today she may be considered fictional.
  14. Л.Войтович КНЯЗІВСЬКІ ДИНАСТІЇ СХІДНОЇ ЄВРОПИ
  15. Л.Войтович КНЯЗІВСЬКІ ДИНАСТІЇ СХІДНОЇ ЄВРОПИ
  16. Л.Войтович КНЯЗІВСЬКІ ДИНАСТІЇ СХІДНОЇ ЄВРОПИ
  17. Template:ВТ-МЭСБЕ
  18. Thurston, Herbert (Editor). Butler’s Lives of the Saints - September.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
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