Halytsko-Volynsk Principality

After the disintegration of Kyivan Rus in the 13th century into separate regional formations, the Halytsko-Volynsk Principality had undertaken the state-creating tradition of Rus. In spite of the devastating wars, which had not passed through the principality, certain stabilization of economic and political development was observed in this area in the 12th century. The increase in population, economic potential, as well as the regulation of economic relations was visible in the Halych Subcarpathia and Volyn territories. M.Hrushevsky considered these two principalities to be the most direct inheritors of Kyiv’s political and cultural traditions. Tomashivsky, another eminent Ukrainian historian, called Halytsko-Volynsk the first undeniably Ukrainian state because at the height of their power in the 13th century the united principalities encompassed about 90% of the population living within what today the borders of Ukraine.

Located along the eastern foothills of the Carpathians at the headwaters of the important Dnister and Prut rivers that flow into the Black Sea, Halicia was originally inhabited by the Dulibian, Tivertsian and White Croatian tribes. In the east it shared a long border with the rolling, wooded plains of Volyn, also inhabited by the Dulibs and White Croatians. While Halicia had the aggressive Hungarians and Poles to contend with on its western and northern borders, Volyn only foreign neighbors were the Lithuanian tribes to the north. Both principalities were fortunate in that they lay beyond the normal range of nomad raiders from the steppe. Volyn and especially Halicia were well populated and their numerous cities were strategically located on important western trade routes. Moreover, Halicia had great deposits of salt, a commodity upon which all of Rus depended.

Halicia and Volyn were quite different principalities in the 12th and 13th centuries. Perhaps the most striking difference between them was the nature of their respective elites. Undoubtedly Halicia had the most willful, wealthy and powerful boyars in all the Rus lands. So pervasive was the influence of this aristocracy that Halicia is often considered the prime example of oligarchic rule in Rus. Unlike the boyars of other principalities who usually descended from the princely retinue, the Halytsk aristocracy apparently emerged primarily from the local tribal elite. And it obtained its estates not from the prince, as was usual, but by usurping open communal lands.

The boyars of Volyn had arrived in the principality in the retinues of their princes, who were frequently appointed and replaced at the will of Kiev, which, because of its proximity, exerted a stronger political influence of the principality than it did on Halicia. The lands these boyars acquired were given in return for services they had rendered their princes. Because the Volyn elite were dependent on the largesse of its princes, it was relatively loyal and supportive of them. This explains why it was the princes of Volyn, and not Halicia, who were in the best position to unite the two principalities.

The Halytsk principality strengthened itself appreciably in second half of the 12th century and its political role became more significant as well. Yaroslav Osmomysl (1153-1187) enjoyed well-deserved prestige among other Russian princes. In 1199 principalities with common economic and cultural conditions and political and economic relations, united and formed the Halytsko-Volynsk state under the reign of Halytsk Prince Roman (1199-1205), a descendent of Volodymyr Monomakh. Prince Roman was the first in the history of the Old Rus state to be referred to as “Grand Duke”, “Autocrat of the whole Rus”.

Prince Roman suppressed the opposition of big time Halytsk boyars. The local population anxious to put a limit to arbitrary feudal rule supported his action. Prince Roman waged, furthermore a successful struggle against the invading Cumans and Lithuanian feudal lords.

The reinforcement of the Princes power in the Halytsko-Volynsk state took place under constant hostility on the part of powerful boyar opposition supported by foreign protectors: Hungarians and Poles. After the death of Roman Mstyslavych, the boyars succeeded in excommunication his sons: Danylo and Vasylko. In 1214, Kalman, a young Hungarian Prince who married a Polish Princes, was proclaimed King of the Halytsko-Volynsk Principality. From that time began a long war by Danylo Halytskyi and his brother Vasylko to have their father’s throne returned to them. This war became known as the liberating war, for restoring state independence and territorial unity of the Halytsko-Volynsk Principality. Danylo Romanovych’s main task was to reinforce the state institutions of the principality and social support, which the boyars should have returned to him. Under these conditions, he allowed for the state-creating experience of Byzanthia and a number of other West European countries.

By the end of the 1230, Danylo Halytskyi (1238-1264) managed to secure the neighborly relations by marrying his son to the daughter of Bela IX, the Hungarian King. The Prince had rendered great services to his country in protecting boundaries of the Halytsko-Volynsk Principality during the Mongol-Tatar invasion to Rus. The fortification line he had constructed immediately before the invasion allowed decreasing the number of plundering raids as compared to other principalities. For 1254-1255, he succeeded in gaining a number of victories over the Horde armies and in driving them away – outside the boundaries of Ukraine.

The internal and foreign policy of Danylo Halytskyi favored the increase of his popularity in the eyes of the world community. Courtiers of European countries considered it an honor to be associated with the Halytsko-Volynsk Prince. In 1253, he was crowned by Pope Innokentyi IX in the town of Dorohochyn, in Pidliashia. This act confirmed the recognition of the Halytsko-Volynsk Principality as a subject of international law. Territorial possessions of the principality considerably increased in the 13-th century, under the descendant of Danylo Romanovych.

In 1264, after years of political activity, Danylo died. In Ukrainian historiography he is considered to be the most outstanding ruler that the two western principalities ever produced. In view of the difficult circumstances under which he had to function, his achievements were remarkable. While rebuilding and expanding his father’s domains, Danylo checked Polish and Hungarian expansion. Breaking the power of the boyars, he raised the social, cultural and economic level of his land until it was among the highest in Eastern Europe. However, not all his plans succeeded. Danylo failed to hold on to Kyiv and he did not attain his major objective – to rid himself of the Mongol yoke. Still, he managed to keep Mongol influence to a minimum. In his attempt to stave off the East, Danylo turned to the West, thereby providing West Ukrainians with an example that they would follow for centuries.

For almost century after Danylo’s death, Halicia and Volyn experienced few apparent changes. The pattern set by Danylo and Vasylko that of a dynamic, forceful prince in Halicia and a more retiring ruler in Volyn – was followed to a certain extent by their respective sons, Lev (1264-1301) and Volodymyr (1270-89). The ambitions and restless Lev was constantly involved in political conflicts. After the Arpad dynasty was extinguished in Hungary, he obtained Transcarpathian Rus, thus laying the foundation for future Ukrainian claims to the western slopes of the Carpathians. Lev was most active in Poland, which was embroiled in internecine warfare; and he even aspired to the Polish throne in Krakow. Despite Lev’s aggressiveness, both Halicia and Volyn enjoyed a period of stability during the late 13th and early 14th centuries because their western neighbors were temporarily weakened.

Volodymyr of Volyn was the antithesis of his Halician cousin and his relations with him were often strained. Unwilling to participate in wars and inactive in diplomacy, he concentrated on such peaceful pursuits as the building of towns, castles and churches.

After the death of Lev, his son Yuri ruled both Halicia and Volyn. He must have been an effective ruler, for neighboring chroniclers noted that during his peaceful reign his lands “blossomed with riches and fame”. Yuri’s position was imposing enough for him to title himself “King of Rus.” The two last members of the Romanovych dynasty were Yuri’s sons, Andrii and Lev, who ruled Halytsko-Volynsk together. Worried by the growing power of Lithuania, they forged an alliance with the German knights of the Teutonic Order. In regard to the Mongols they followed an independent, even antagonistic policy and there are some indications that they may have died fighting then.

With the extinction of the native ruling dynasty in 1323, the elite of the two principalities chose Boleslav, a Polish cousin of the Romanovychi, as their prince. After changing his name to Iurii and adopting Orthodoxy, the new ruler set about to follow the policies of his predecessors. Despite his Polish background, he fought to regain lands that had in the meantime been lost to the Poles, and he renewed the alliance with the Germans against the Lithuanians. At home, Yuri-Boleslav continued to support the towns and attempted to expand his prerogatives. It was probably this policy that led to a conflict with the boyars who, in 1340, poisoned him under the pretext that he sought to introduce Roman Catholicism and favored foreigners. Thus by the hand of its own elite, Halicia and Volyn were deprived of their last prince.

For 100 years after the fall of Kyiv, Halytsko-Volynsk Principality base of the Ukrainians. In this capacity, the two principalities absorbed much of Kyivan heritage and at the same time prevented the absorption of West Ukrainian lands by Poland. Notwithstanding, the partial economic and political dependence on the Golden Horde, the Principality leaders managed to keep to their own foreign policy. But the constant exhausting struggle with foreign and home enemies gradually weakened the Halytsko-Volynsk Principality, of which its enemies took advantage without delay. At the end of the 14th century, the lands of the recently strong state proved to be divided between Poland, Lithuania, Hungary and Moldova.

Date: 2015-01-02; view: 1349